Aspirin may increase stroke risk in healthy older persons

Healthy older people who take regular aspirin to prevent stroke may actually be increasing their risk. In the past 25 years the number of strokes associated with blood-thinning drugs such as aspirin or warfarin has risen seven-fold, a UK study found. The risk is particularly high in the over 75s and aspirin may do more harm than good in healthy older people, The Lancet Neurology paper reported. However, people advised to take daily aspirin by their GP should not stop.

Study leader, University of Oxford's Professor Peter Rothwell, said the increasing use of drugs such as aspirin may soon take over high blood pressure as the leading cause of intracerebral haemorrhagic stroke in the over 75s. He warned than in healthy older adults the risks of taking aspirin may outweigh any benefits. "GPs have been treating high blood pressure very aggressively and that is bringing dividends but there are other causes of stroke in the elderly which have become important. "There are good reasons for taking aspirin or warfarin but there are elderly who take aspirin as a lifestyle choice and in that situation the trials have shown there's no benefit. "And what our study suggests is that, particularly in the very elderly, the risks of aspirin outweigh the benefits," he said. Dr Peter Coleman, deputy director of research and development for The Stroke Association said aspirin had gained a reputation of being part of a healthy lifestyle. "However, this evidence indicates that if you are healthy and have a low risk of heart disease or stroke and unless advised by your GP to take aspirin on a daily basis then the increased risks from the side effects of aspirin are likely to outweigh the benefits of preventing a stroke." He advised people to lower their risk of stroke by having regular blood pressure checks, eating a healthy diet, stopping smoking, only drinking alcohol in moderation, reducing salt intake and taking regular exercise.

Bonnie - I have said all along that aspirin is not for everybody. While it is the only documented drug that is effective for certain chronic diseases (because it mediates stressor signals to our genes), there is a significant portion of the population that does not tolerate it well. In many instances, it can do more harm than good. Conveniently, a simple genetic test can now detect if you tolerate aspirin or not. In fact, your doctor should always recommend this first.