Reconsider Taking Aspirin to Lower Your Heart Disease Risk

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Dr. Mercola

November 16 2002

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Reconsider Taking Aspirin to Lower Your Heart Disease Risk

A recent study that investigated the effects of taking low-dose aspirin daily for close to four years, found that only participants with compromised kidney function (defined as a serum creatinine level greater than 1.3) benefited significantly.

The patients with compromised kidney function who took 75 mg of aspirin daily had decreased risk of cardiovascular events and myocardial infarction as compared with those who took a placebo. The risk of bleeding from the aspirin was similar in all study participants. Previous studies have shown that low-dose aspirin reduced cardiovascular events by 15 percent and myocardial infarction by 36 percent, however major bleedings increased by 65 percent.

Journal Hypertension November 2002 20(11):2301-2307

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

Earlier this year the British Medical Journal had an editorial that comprehensively reviewed the evidence to date that supports the use of aspirin for heart disease prevention. Another study in JAMA showed that fish oils have a blood-thinning effect similar to aspirin.

In yet a third study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, similar findings were reported along with the news that fish oil dramatically reduces rates of heart disease.

If you haven't read my updated information on the importance of finding high-quality fish oil please do.

The bottom line is that you need to be careful when choosing fish oil. It is important to find a high quality, pure oil, and one of the best ones out there is Carlson's brand. You can get it in just about any health food store or find Carlson's fish oil and cod liver oil in our "Recommended Products" section.

Further, those who are looking for a safe alternative to aspirin for heart health may want to try CardioEssentials. It contains a powerful enzyme called nattokinase, derived from the food natto, which has been used successfully for circulatory problems for decades -- and it's safer and healthier than aspirin.

Related Articles:

Aspirin Not Recommended for Heart Disease Anymore

Fish Oil Cuts Risk of Sudden Death

I Now Advise Against Costco Fish Oil Capsules, Urge Caution

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outsider

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My elderly father recently bought a good quality fish oil and began taking it and started feeling bad. He occasionally has these spells anyway. I found out that he is also still taking a baby aspirin every day. He has had a history of heart attacks and strokes, had by-pass surgery several years ago. He has congestive heart failure. Can the fish oil hurt him? Should he not be taking both the aspirin and the fish oil?

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