Best Aspirin Dose For Heart Problem Prevention
According to a report in Journal of the American Medical Association an estimated 50 million adults in the United States take aspirin every day for the prevention of heart problems. Aspirin prevents the sticking together of blood cells called platelets. How much aspirin is needed for this purpose is still controversial. Some feel that the amount of active ingredient in baby aspirin (81 milligrams) is so small that giving it to an adult may not achieve the desired result. Giving adults a dose that is larger than the dose given to children makes sense with many drugs andin many situations. That principle, however, does not apply to heart problem prevention and aspirin. Researchers from the University of Kentucky (Lexington) reviewed published data found that long-term doses above 75 to 81 mg per day did not increase aspirin’s effectiveness as a heart protectant.
Aspirin is currently used as an effective antiflammatory medicine and pain reliever. Aspirin may also help treat and prevent cataracts, and a possible complication of pregnancy called preeclampsia.