Aspirin for heart attacks

[Guest guest]

This question was asked of Dr. Lori Mosca, who is the director of preventive

cardilogy at New York-Presbyterian Hospital.

Q: Aspirin is recommended as a possible prevention factor to heart disease. I

am allergic to aspirin - and all drugs that process via the same metabolic path

- so do you have a suggestion for an alternative? Or is there an alternative?

Answer:

A Routine use of aspirin in healthy women less than 65 years is not recommended

to prevent heart attack and should only be considered to prevent ischemic

(blockage of blood to the brain) stroke when the benefit is likely to outweigh

the adverse effects of therapy. Among healthy women more than 65 years, low-dose

aspirin therapy (81mg daily or 100mg every other day) should be considered if

blood pressure is controlled and the benefits for ischemic stroke and heart

attack prevention is likely to outweigh the risk of taking aspirin, which

include gastrointestinal bleeding and hemorrhagic (bleeding into the brain)

stroke. Aspirin therapy (75-325mg/day) is recommended for women who are at high

risk of cardiovascular disease due to established coronary heart disease,

cerebrovascular disease, peripheral arterial disease, abdominal aortic aneurysm,

end stage or chronic renal disease, diabetes mellitus, or a ten-year Framingham

risk more than 20 percent. If a high-risk woman has liver or kidney disease,

stomach ulcers and other gastrointestinal problems, bleeding problems, or

aspirin allergies, clopidogrel (e.g. Plavix) should be used instead of aspirin.

It is important to speak with your physician before beginning to take aspirin so

he/she can assess your risk level and discuss the potential risks, benefits, and

side effects.

http://www.everydayhealth.com/PublicSite/index.aspx?puid=3981ce1b-4fcc-4875-8200\

-efd60c9c1018 & xid=nl_EverydayHealthAsthmaandAllergies_20090501

Blessings,

Lottie