Aspirin in low doses, as it turned out, can be used not only for the primary prevention of myocardial infarction.

In men, this cardiovascular agent can lower the risk of certain types of cancer.

Many men have doubts about whether it is worth taking this drug for the prevention of heart attack.

The fact is that aspirin even in low doses increases the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding.

US national guidelines recommend the use of cardiac aspirin only in individuals who have a high likelihood of heart attack. This means that in other cases the benefit of taking aspirin does not outweigh the risk of possible side effects.

The latest data tell us that aspirin can also be effective for reducing mortality due to cancer. This moment can significantly affect the ratio of risk and benefit, changing the current recommendations and the opinion of the patients themselves.

The research team, which included UNC scientists, reported a positive effect of aspirin on cancer mortality. In their opinion, new data requires a revision of the current strategy for the use of aspirin. This may lower the minimum age of men who are recommended for cardiac aspirin. More information about the new work can be found in the June issue of the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

The study was led by Dr. Michael Pignon, a professor of medicine and head of the department of general internal medicine, a member of the UNC Linberger Cancer Center.

Dr. Michael Pignon says: "We came to the conclusion that including a new factor in the analysis of the benefits and risks of aspirin can significantly change the balance, especially when it comes to middle-aged men, that is, 46-55 years.

Taking into account the new property of aspirin, several million American men who were not previously candidates for such therapy will now face a new choice ".

US health authorities now recommend taking aspirin to prevent cardiovascular events in men, when "the potential benefits of reducing the risk of myocardial infarction outweigh the potential risk of gastrointestinal bleeding".

This formulation appeared in 2009, even before the ability of aspirin to reduce mortality due to cancer was discovered.

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