Aspirin may do you more harm than good

Added 02.12.2008

Millions of people around the world take aspirin for pain, fever, inflammation and quite often doctors prescribe the drug to treat and prevent heart attacks and stroke. But do we really know all the risks involved with aspirin treatment? Recent studies say no. Aspirin may actually do more harm than good and in diabetics - contrary to pharmaceutical industry claims - aspirin does nothing to prevent heart attacks and stroke.

What you should know about aspirin

Aspirin belongs to a group of painkiller drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that reduce substances that typically result in inflammation, pain and fever. Because aspirin is a blood thinner and prevents blood clots from forming, it has been widely used in the treatment and prevention of heart disease and stroke. But if you are hoping to prevent a heart attack or stroke, you might want to reconsider taking aspirin because its side effects can far outweigh its preventive properties.

For a start the use of aspirin, as well as other painkillers, is one of the leading causes of serious digestive tract complications such as gastrointestinal bleeding and ulcers. Other common aspirin side effects include stomach pain, heart burn, nausea and vomiting. Long-term use of aspirin can lead to serious health concerns and recently a new side effect has been discovered that affects approximately 21% of regular aspirin users. Called aspirin-induced asthma, this potentially life-threatening condition is a severe reaction to aspirin that is characterized by asthma symptoms within 30 minutes to three hours after ingestion of the drug. According to another Canadian study, prolonged use of aspirin, especially in heart patients, can lead to a condition known as aspirin resistance. This makes them four times more likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke.

Aspirin and diabetes

More than 75% percent of people with diabetes die of cardiovascular complications. These people are often treated with a daily dose of aspirin as a preventive measure against heart disease. But a recent study published in the British Medical Journal has found no link between aspirin and a reduced risk of heart attack and stroke. So why take a drug that is not really doing you any good but rather causing you a host of other serious health problems? Is there an alternative?

Indeed there is! There are much safer and effective alternatives for preventing heart disease.

Fish oil and prevention of heart disease

Fish oil is packed with essential omega-3 fatty acids that have been proven to effectively, yet safely reduce inflammation in the blood that in turn decreases your risk of heart attacks and strokes.

High quality fish oil supplements, like Doctor's Natural EPA/DHA fish oil, are pharmaceutically graded and have been through a strict refining process that removes all heavy metals, toxins and other contaminants so that you can enjoy their full health benefits without the risk of contamination.

Vitamin E and prevention of heart disease

Vitamin E is considered the most important fat-soluble nutrient that plays a vital role in a vast number of biochemical reactions throughout your body. Numerous scientific studies prove that the natural form of vitamin E (d-alpha tocopherol), can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Remember, only the natural, bioavailable form of vitamin E (d-alpha tocopherol) that can be found in Doctor's Natural supplement, is an effective and absolutely side effect-free treatment for preventing heart disease. Fish oil and vitamin E can be taken together safely and do not increase the risk of bleeding.

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