REALITY MEETS SCIENCE tm on whether or not to take a daily aspirin for health: Youve probably heard the saying an apple a day keeps the doctor away, and many people feel that you could trade apple for the word aspirin and the saying would still hold (for example Dr David Agus who has been on a campaign to start millions of people on aspirin even if theyve never had a heart attack nor any known vascular risk) ...But the FDA and I would say hold on a minute!. As much as it seems aspirin is a wonder drug, people seem not to have learned (or downplay) that aspirin is a proven culprit in thousands of cases of major bleeding annually - especially gastrointestinal (ulcers) and major brain bleeding (such as after falling). Ive been wary of aspirin, low dose and otherwise, for years for these reasons. This is especially true in people who have no PERSONAL history of cardiovascular disease and are following a heart healthy lifestyle of physical activity, lots of fresh and appropriately cooked vegetables and whole fruits, do not smoke nor drink (other than very mildly), maintain a healthy weight. Watching the data evolve it seems clearer that the benefit to risk ratio of aspirin is far more towards risk than the current public perception, especially in healthy individuals with no history of disease. And in unhealthy lifestyles with no known history of cardiovascular disease (YET), the answer & data is far more in favor of modifying lifestyle to achieve optimal blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and measures of insulin resistance (what we do daily at the St Joe Oakland metabolic program) than to simply take aspirin. And now the FDA has made clear that if youve never had a heart attack, even if you have a family history, there is no clear evidence of benefit that can justify the risk for bleeding. Of course, if you already take aspirin regularly under the advice of your doctor or other qualified, licensed health care provider, this FDA information should be brought to their attention so you can discuss with them if it makes sense to continue aspirin. So while the debate may go on over aspirins risks vs benefits with extreme positions taken both pro (e.g., Dr Agus) and con (e.g., Dr Mercola), make no mistake what is the true REALITY MEETS SCIENCE (tm) APPROVED path to no aspirin required prevention for the mass majority of us: 1. an active lifestyle reflected by getting over 10,000 or more steps most days per week (exercise and non exercise activity combined) or an equivalent total amount including other activity 2. LOTS OF VEGETABLES, WHOLE FRUITS (probably on the order of one pound of whole fruit and one pound of leafy and low starch veggies daily) complimented by moderate regular amounts of low sodium legumes (beans/lentils), unsalted dry roasted or raw nuts n seeds (if not allergic) and whole grains & small amounts of unsaturated fats (e.g., olive oil, canola oil etc) for cooking and salads. Comfort (aka junk) foods - yes, including chocolate, cheese, sweets, chips, ice cream etc etc) need to be treated with the respect of an opponent in the boxing ring who wants to really hurt you even though you hear the crowd egging you on to chew him up! 3. Do not smoke at all and do not drink in anything more than very, very mild amounts 4. Maintain as healthy and lean a weight as possible while also maintaining good strength through physical activity (consider strength training) 5. All major metabolic parameters under control including: - blood pressure (ideally for most meaning less than 120-130 / 70-80 without the need for medication - Lipids/cholesterol controlled (your total cholesterol minus your HDL less than or approaching 100mg/dL or better yet, your NMR Lipoprofile measured LDL-PARTICLE NUMBER (not to be confused with LDL cholesterol) less than or approaching 1000nmol/L - no insulin resistance - which in a non-diabetic could be reasonably assured by a fasting glucose below 100mg/dL while simultaneously having a fasting insulin below 7mIU/L If you meet all the criteria above it is a virtual certainty, with rare exception, that any argument could be made to put you on even a low dose aspirin a day. Of course, always discuss this or any health/medical information you read about or hear with your personal physician or qualified, licensed health care provider.
Posted on: Mon, 04 Aug 2014 11:52:29 +0000
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