Aspirin is really a ‘wonder drug’
It is an effective pain reliever and has been linked to reduced risk of a number of health conditions, including heart attack, stroke and cancer. But aspirin is really the “wonder drug” many health experts claim it.
Earlier this month, it was announced that researchers from the UK would be embarking on the biggest clinical trial of aspirin to date the add-Aspirin phase 3 trials – investigating whether the drug is effective for preventing cancer recurrence through a study of around 11,000 people.
The announcement has caused much excitement in the medical world, with many health experts claiming the trial could be “game-changing” if the drug is found effective, offering a non-expensive strategy to improve survival for cancer patients.
Cancer is just one in a long line of illnesses that aspirin may combat. But in the midst of potential health benefits comes a number of risks, a fact some health professionals believe is often overlooked.
“Because it’s been around a long time people think ‘it must be safe and it can’t do me any harm,'” Prof. Peter Weissberg, medical director of the British Heart Foundation in the UK, told The Independent. “They are taking it ‘just in case,’ but it’s much more dangerous than some other drugs which people get concerned about, like satins.”In this Spotlight, we take a closer look at the potential health benefits of aspirin, as well as the risks associated with the drug.