ASPIRIN: not as effective as we thought

Here is a new study out of UBC (and St Paul's Hospital) that suggests that ASA is not as effective as once thought for preventing first time MI's - the benefits are only "slight" and the side effects from regularily rx'd asa to certain groups may outweigh the side effects.

However, it does benefit those who have had an MI already - reducing a subsequent MI by 20% - and it also may prevent Strokes in women. Apparently ASA doesn't reduce the risk of MI with diabetics and women - as previously thought.

"Some have postulated that ASA may be ineffective in women because of male-female differences in salicylate metabolism or interactions with hormones" - so the article says.

Read about it here in the BC Medical Journal.

It isn't going to stop me from grabbing a tab and chewing on it if I ever thought I was having an MI.