A recent study has shown that among 1.279 bowel cancer sufferers, those who took aspirin daily following diagnosis were 30% less likely to die of the disease.

The same people were also 20% less likely to die at all – of any cause.

For many years, it has been been common to recommend aspirin to those in danger of heart attack or stroke.

A spokesperson at Cancer Research UK said that it was necessary to weigh up the possible benefit of taking aspirin with the potential side effects. These particularly relate to damage of the stomach lining.

Inflammation

Aspirin acts as an anti-inflammatory – and it’s a fair bet that this is the reason for its benefits in this case.

It can further be suggested that a natural anti-inflammatory such as the omega 3 fatty acids in fish oil would have had a similar effect. And there would be no side effects.

There is increasing evidence that fish oil supplementation benefits various cancers, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes.

There is tremendous potential for research into the anti-inflammatory properties of fish oil. This will take time, as there is little money around for research into such natural supplements.

Aspirin Reduces Cancer – And Death In General is a post from: Living To 150

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Taking aspirin for heart disease prevention has been a standard recommendation for some time. Although aspirin is known to make internal bleeding more likely – notably where there is ulceration of the stomach – we have been told that the dangers are outweighed by the benefits.

New research now questions whether the preventive aspect of taking aspirin works at all.

Heart Study Details

1276 diabetic patients were studied, who had no history of a heart attack, but who had some evidence of artery disease. In other words, they were likely candidates for a future heart attack.

The study was led by Professor Jill Belch at Dundee University, Scotland.

Heart Study Results

After 8 years, patients in the ‘aspirin’ group had experienced 116 heart attacks; whereas those given placebos had suffered 117 heart attacks. Thus there was no significant benefit to taking the aspirin.

Conclusion

In this study, there was no benefit to taking aspirin for prevention of heart attack, but there was an increased risk of intestinal bleeding from taking aspirin.

Therefore, those who have not yet had a heart attack and are taking aspirin purely for protection – the ‘worried well’ – should question whether they should risk taking aspirin.

This study did not consider those who have actually had a heart attack and whether aspirin benefited them.

(Talk with your doctor before changing any medication you are taking.)

Further information:
Press release, Dundee University
MSN News coverage

Heart Benefits of Aspirin Questioned is a post from: Living To 150

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