September 26, 2019
ADVICE TO BETTER SWALLOW NEW RECOMMENDATIONS ON PREVENTIVE ASPIRIN USE
ThedaCare Cardiothoracic Surgeon Explains Guidelines
APPLETON, Wis. – An aspirin a day keeps the doctor away? Many people still believe the standby saying, even though new guidelines advise against daily aspirin use for most who are trying to prevent cardiovascular disease.
“Patients should not just take aspirin as a preventive measure for cardiovascular disease,” explained Salvior Mok, MD, a cardiologist with ThedaCare Cardiovascular Care. “It may actually do more harm than good. Patients should only take it when it is prescribed.”
Survey results published in the Annals of Internal Medicine this summer show almost half of people over the age of 70 who have no symptoms of Cardiovascular Disease take aspirin despite recent recommendations against the routine. In spring 2019, the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology (AHA/ACC) released updated guidelines, published in both Circulation and the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, which take a stand against regular use of aspirin for people 70 years and older and for adults at any age at increased risk of bleeding.
“The two take-home messages are that aspirin carries an increased risk of bleeding for people who are at a low risk or without a risk of cardiovascular disease,” said Dr. Mok. “And aspirin is still considered effective for people between the ages of 40 and 70 who are not at an increased risk of bleeding.”
Dr. Mok stressed that all treatment plans should be discussed with a provider.
“Do not just take aspirin without following up with your doctor,” she said. “I also suggest patients contact their primary care provider at least once a year. Guidelines change and it is important to have the most up-to-date information.”
Dr. Mok believes the reason many people are not changing their ways as a result of the new guidelines is due to infrequent visits to their primary care physicians. Providers must also ensure patients understand new health recommendations and are complying.
“Additionally, many patients see this preventive aspirin use as a supplement,” Dr. Mok said. “They just take it with all their other supplements.”
That can be dangerous, especially with the increased risk of bleeding.
Dr. Mok suggests a healthy lifestyle approach to preventing cardiovascular disease:
- Focus on eating right
- Be active
- Know your numbers (blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, body mass index)
- Control your numbers
- Don’t smoke and avoid secondhand smoke
- Know your family history
- Tame your stress
- Watch your weight
About ThedaCare
For more than 110 years, ThedaCare® has been committed to improving the health of the communities it serves in Northeast and Central Wisconsin. The organization delivers care to a community of more than 600,000 residents in 14 counties and employs more than 7,000 healthcare professionals. ThedaCare has 180 locations including seven hospitals located in Appleton, Neenah, Berlin, New London, Shawano, Waupaca and Wild Rose. ThedaCare is the first in Wisconsin to be a Mayo Clinic Care Network Member, giving our specialists the ability to consult with Mayo Clinic experts on a patient’s care. ThedaCare is a not-for-profit healthcare organization with a level II trauma center, comprehensive cancer treatment, stroke and cardiac programs as well as a foundation dedicated to community service.
For more information, visit www.thedacare.org or follow ThedaCare on Facebook and Twitter.
Media should call Cassandra Wallace, Public Relations Specialist at 920.442.0328 or the ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah switchboard at 920.729.3100 and ask for the marketing person on call.
