Aspirin plays dual role in helping the heart

Nowadays, aspirin tablets are no longer used solely to alleviate minor aches, pains and fever. A decade ago, aspirin’s action in preventing the clogging of blood vessels gave rise to its use as a popular heart attack and stroke preventor.

A study published recently in the American Heart Association journal Circulation cited the dual role played by aspirin in helping the heart.

"(The study) confirms what doctors had long suspected – aspirin long known to ‘thin’ the blood and prevent clots, also seems to prevent some of the inflammation linked to heart disease. The anti-inflammatory effects of aspirin can, theoretically, protect against heart disease. Aspirin also has a positive effect on the ability of the blood vessels to expand, " the article states. Stiff arteries are a major cause of heart and artery disease.

As a result of these effects, doctors recommend daily aspirin therapy for people who survived a first heart attack or are likely to suffer a heart attack.

These high-risk individuals are mostly males aged 40 and above, diabetics, with high cholesterol and high blood pressure, overweight with a sedentary lifestyle and have a family history of heart ailments.

But the high dose aspirin more commonly available in the market is known to have gastric side-effects, thus forcing people to discontinue aspirin therapy. Today, low dose aspirins were developed to give people the same benefits as the higher doses but without the gastric irritation. Clinical studies have shown that the ideal dose is 30 milligrams.

The lowest dose aspirin in the local market today is available through Cor-30. Manufactured by Pascual Laboratories Inc., this 30-milligram per heart-shaped tablet is dubbed as the low-dose aspirin made specially for the heart.