Sisters, 2008
Back to our old friends, the USPSTF*. I haven’t always been exactly fair to them, usually
treating their suggestions with skepticism or downright annoyance. However, this time I think they have hit the
nail squarely, and countersunk it. They
recommend daily small-dose aspirin for adults over 50. The article I am quoting appears in The Week, a good magazine. However, cheap buggers that they are, they
won’t let you read the article unless you have a subscription. Hence:
Here it is:
*United States Preventative Services Task Force
An influential task force of medical
experts has sparked controversy by recommending that adults over 50 take a
daily low-dose aspirin to prevent both heart attacks and colorectal cancer. The
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, appointed by the federal Department of
Health and Human Services, said its extensive review of data found that adults
who are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease could benefit from daily
aspirin use, even if they have not had previous heart problems. One study found
a 22 percent reduction in heart attacks. A daily low-dose aspirin taken over 10
years also lowers the risk of colon cancer by up to 40 percent, the panel said.
Many doctors, however, oppose daily aspirin for people with no prior history of
heart disease, on the grounds that the drug’s anti-clotting effect can cause
bleeding in the stomach, intestines, and brain and possibly lead to strokes.
But the task force, whose recommendation will have strong influence in the
medical community, said the benefits of low-dose aspirin outweigh the risks,
especially for people in their 50s with signs of heart disease or a history of
heart attacks. Dr. Douglas Owens, a Stanford University professor and task
force member, told CBSNews.com that the recommendation does not mean
that people should take aspirin without consulting their doctor. “If you’re a
person trying to decide whether to take aspirin, you’d want to be aware of all
the potential benefits and the potential harms,” Owens said.
The Week
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