Protection from prostate cancer recurrence can be found in an aspirin bottle, according to last week’s AARP Bulletin (Nov. 23, 2010). However, if you routinely take a daily low dose of aspirin (.81 mg), be aware that it could be hazardous for your health.
Sure, using aspirin to thin your blood can avoid clotting, hence making a recurrence of prostate cancer less likely. But aspirin’s blood thinning effect can lead to life-threatening internal bleeding. That’s why many doctors today, unlike those in the early 90’s, don’t rush to recommend daily aspirin for most patients.
Only those with a current or potential heart ailment should consider taking an aspirin. That includes people like me, since I have four risk factors for cardiac problems: I’m a man, my father (a medical doctor and dental surgeon) died of heart disease, I’ve recently become a "senior" as I'm young at heart but I'll be 67 by mid-February; and I have diabetes 2. As such I am at greater risk for heart illness than most men, so in my case aspirin is recommended.
Taking a daily aspirin makes sense. But only if you and your doctor determine you are at risk for having heart problems due to a blockage or clot.
As with the laws of physics, there’s an unwritten rule, even if you take over-the-counter medicines: ”For every action there is an equal and unpleasant reaction”!
Comments