Aging women benefit from aspirin
Categories: Healthy Habits, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness
Aspirin has been on the good side of the news before, mostly for helping people recover and reduce the risk of a recurrence after strokes and heart attacks. But this new data suggests it might be a good idea for healthy aging people, women particularly, also to ask their doctors about taking a low-dose aspirin. It just may help them stay healthier longer.But don't start popping aspirins like little life-saving M&Ms -- too much of its "good thing" can cause ulcers and bleeding (and as with any medication, it may interact negatively with other prescriptions you take). Then on the bright side again, it is one of the most inexpensive medications out there (and these days that's special!).
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Marianne Moore 3-29-2007 @ 7:58AM
The problem with this is that a lot of older people also take other NSAID pain medications, like Ibuprofen (Advil, Nuprin, Motrin) and the newest information is that taking both medicines causes both of them to be less effective. (I am a nurse)
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Sussi 3-29-2007 @ 9:47AM
Aspirin also contributes to macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy.
Vitamin C also thins the blood.
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Lee 3-29-2007 @ 3:57PM
Dear Sussi (poster 2),
Your answer in itself was very vague but, but aspirin is NOT a contributing factor to AMD (macular dengenration). New evidence strongly suggest that SMOKING is extremely high on the list of contributing factors. Other factors are genetics (family history), high blood pressure, lighter eye color and obesity. It affects white females in particular, and can be a side effect of some drugs, of which aspirin was not one. But, once again, after many studies, the ONLY RISK FACTORS which were found to be consistent were aging and SMOKING. Vitamin C as you stated in your post, was said to have HELPED in the slowing of Macular Degeneration, as does vitamin E or high levels of antioxidants and zinc for halting or slowing the development of the disease.
I hope this helps you.
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Cinna 3-29-2007 @ 11:06AM
The reason aspirin provides a benefit is not merely as an anticoagulant, but because it is an anti-inflammatory. While the link between inflammation and aging is not well understood, large population studies are showing the 162mg-per-day dosing of aspirin provides long-term benefit. The caveat, of course, is that the patient does not have gastroenterological problems, but in (relatively) younger and healthier people, that may not pose a problem.
The anti-inflammatory response by the gingiva (gums) is the reason flossing appears to provide long-term benefits to the heart. Again, these links are not well-understood, but it is hard to argue with the results of the studies. Chronic inflammation is a slow killer.
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Sheila 3-29-2007 @ 3:23PM
i read about taking a full strength coated aspirin as part of a beauty regimen & there's more to gain than that. The article said one aspirin a day helps your hair, nails, skin, etc, but it also helps to keep arteries clear from plaque build up, plus other benefits that i can't remember now, i gues it doesn't help with memory problems.
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Laura Hulbert 3-29-2007 @ 1:42PM
I cannot find an increased risk of macular degeneration and aspirin use on medline. Statins and antiinflammatory medications such as naprosyn and ibuprofen may be protective against macular degeneration.
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