[thedoc (OP)]

@adebradley asked the Naked Scientists:
   At what age should you start taking aspirin regularly for the best health benefits and least risk?
What do you think?

[evan_au]

That is a question for your health care professional.
Like all medicines, aspirin has undesirable side-effects (and, in fact, the exact reason for some of its supposed health benefits are not exactly understood).

There is thought to be a large population of older adults with undiagnosed atrial fibrillation (AF), a heart condition that can lead to the formation of blood clots in the heart, leading to an increased chance of a stroke.
- At one time, it was thought that the anticoagulant properties of aspirin would reduce the chance of the blood clots forming, and so would reduce the chance of stroke.
- But anticoagulant properties means that there is more chance of a bleed in the brain, or bruising in various parts of the body
- If you are involved in an accident or a fall, these anticoagulant properties could even kill you
- And aspirin has negative impacts on the stomach (there are versions of aspirin with a coating that doesn't dissolve until it has passed through the stomach)

With modern electronic sensors, it is possible for pharmacists to screen people for permanent AF when they visit the pharmacy. People with AF can then be treated for their heart condition, instead of giving everyone in the community aspirin (whether they need it or not).

[alancalverd]

The time to take a preventive, is when you are at risk.

The time to take a curative, is when you are sick.

If it ain't busted, don't fix it.

[exothermic]

Diminishing platelet thromboxane a2 is a good thing for a large majority of the adult population, but of course there are acceptions.

Aspirin at 81mg/day reduces the risk of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease & stroke by reducing coronary vasoconstriction and enhancing coronary vasodilation.

Aspirin facilitates endothelial prostacyclin production & localized vasodilation via the blockade of platelet thromboxane a2 production.

The downregulation by aspirin of thromboxane-induced vasoconstriction is important in the context of the ischemic-mediated oxygen supply-and-demand imbalances and reduced blood flow observed in coronary artery disease.