He who has health has hope.
And he who has hope has everything-Arabian Proverb
Question for Dr. Jeff
Q: So I have been taking a daily low dose (81mg) aspirin for years. I have always been told it was good for me. Can you tell me why it’s good for me, what does it do for me and to my body, and should I even be taking it?
– John, TX
A: Great question John!
In this email, I will summarize the medical viewpoints on Aspirin therapy and then share my opinion and offer you a few alternatives.
Aspirin – What is it?
Aspirin is a synthetic version of salicylic acid – a compound naturally found in the bark of white willow trees.
Aspirin has been used to relieve pain, reduce fever and reduce inflammation since it was first synthesized by the Bayer Company in 1897.
What Aspirin Does
According the Mayo Clinic, Aspirin’s effects in the body can have good and bad implications. Its two main effects are:
- Blood thinner: It inhibits clotting, which helps reduce the risk of heart attack and ischemic stroke (stroke caused by a blood clot) but increases the danger of bleeding.
- Inflammation reducer: It lessens pain and fever by preventing production of the hormone-like substances called prostaglandins. But this can also deplete a protective layer in the stomach and increase the risk of ulcers.
Should I even be taking this?
Obviously this is a personal conversation you should have with your doctor, but here are the current guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. (Full article here)
Aspirin is recommended for:
- Some men 45 and older with risk factors for heart disease, assuming no history of ulcers or other bleeding dangers.
- Some women 55 and older with risk factors for stroke, and no history of bleeding danger.
Aspirin is not recommended for:
- Men younger than 45, and women younger than 55.
- Anyone 80 and older.
What are the possible side effects of daily aspirin therapy?
While the natural plant form of salicylic acid, found in the white willow tree has been used for millennia with few reported side effects, in its synthetic drug form, aspirin has four significant side effects.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the side effects and complications of taking aspirin include:
- Stroke caused by a burst blood vessel. While daily aspirin can help prevent a clot-related stroke, it may increase your risk of a bleeding stroke (hemorrhagic stroke).
- Gastrointestinal bleeding. Daily aspirin use increases your risk of developing a stomach ulcer. And, if you have a bleeding ulcer or bleeding anywhere else in your gastrointestinal tract, taking aspirin will cause it to bleed more, perhaps to a life-threatening extent.
- Allergic reaction. If you’re allergic to aspirin, taking any amount of aspirin can trigger a serious allergic reaction.
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus) and hearing loss. Too much aspirin (overdosing) can cause tinnitus and eventual hearing loss in some people.
*Like with any medication, there is a clear risk reward trade-off that must be considered with aspirin therapy. Although it is an over-the-counter medication, it is still a drug with significant effects in the body — as measured in both potential benefits and significant side effects. Because of this, it is important to discuss this decision with your doctor before beginning, modifying or ending an aspirin regimen.
Natural Alternatives
While Aspirin is prized for its anti-inflammatory and blood thinning effects in the body, there are foods and herbs that can have similar beneficial effects -without the aforementioned side effects!
Beneficial Foods:
- Fish Oil– Cold water fatty fish rich in Omega 3 fatty acids include salmon, tuna, trout, herring and mackerel.
- Vitamin E rich foods –Spinach, Sunflower Seeds, Almonds, Swiss Chard, Papaya (click for more)
- Ginger
- Garlic
Herbal Options:
- White Willow Bark – This herb is a natural alternative to aspirin. The brand I recommend is Mediherb.
What else can I do to address the cause?
Avoiding pro-inflammatory foods such as sugar, gluten products and trans fats will decrease the cause of inflammation in your body preventing the need for aspirin and its anti-inflammatory effects in the first place.
Avoid these:
- Sugar – In all its forms, especially table sugar (sucrose) and high fructose corn syrup.
- Gluten – A protein found most commonly in wheat, barley and rye.
- Trans-Fats – Identified on food labels as “Partially Hydrogenated Oil”.
Health is NOT defined by the absence of symptoms
Health is the defined by the PRESENCE of 5 key components, Ease, Vitality, Healthy Eating, Optimum Commincation and Fitness.
