Medical Myths That Can Kill You by Nancy L. Snyderman M.D

Author:Nancy L. Snyderman, M.D.
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780307409256
Publisher: Crown Publishing Group
Published: 2008-05-19T16:00:00+00:00

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• Women over age sixty-five (if the benefits outweigh the risks)

• Men over age forty-five, to prevent heart attack

If you think you’re having a heart attack, chew an aspirin immediately—any dose will do—and then head to the hospital. As an anticlotting agent, aspirin works by preventing platelets, tiny clotting elements in the blood, from clumping together, thus busting a clot. Within fifteen to twenty minutes of chewing that aspirin, it will start to dissolve a clot, and that’s precious time.

The Aspirin Foundation recommends aspirin therapy during a current cardiovascular event (for example, taking a tablet of aspirin if you’re experiencing chest pain probably due to a heart attack); if you’re at risk of a heart attack but haven’t yet had one; and if you’ve had a heart attack and want to reduce the risk of a second one. Of course, don’t start aspirin therapy unless your doctor okays it.

Do not reach for the aspirin bottle if you think you are having a stroke, however. In some strokes, an area of the brain is flooded with blood, and taking aspirin could intensify the bleeding. You don’t know what kind of stroke you’re having until you’re evaluated, so hold off on taking anything until you’re seen by a physician in the emergency room.

As amazing as this drug is, it is not for everyone, particularly those with ulcers, especially bleeding ulcers, and no one 18 or younger should be given aspirin. Keep in mind that aspirin is still a medicine with side effects, such as stomach bleeding. Aspirin can thin your blood, too, making you bruise or bleed more easily should you injure or cut yourself.

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