Aspirin is a medicine-cabinet staple. Many have touted it as a wonder drug. Aspirin relieves back pain, lowers the risk of stroke, heart attack and colon cancer. But taking aspirin may not be for everyone.
60% of the population, healthy and those being treated for coronary disease, may have some level of resistence to the benefits of aspirin according to a recent review in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
What is aspirin resistence? Aspiring affects the platelets in our arterial system and keep them from 'sticking' lowering the risk of clotting. People with aspiring resistence don't get this benefit but can still get pain relief.
How can you tell if you are resistant? Blood tests can help your physician determine if you may need a different therapy, especially if you're at risk for heart disease. These test aren't widely available, but it doesn't hurt to ask your physician.
What are the alternatives? Other antiplatelet drugs exist if you are aspirin-resistant.
"The journey of life is taken one step at a time... none of them should be painful." G.M. Barclay, DPM, AACFAS
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