DRS. OZ AND ROIZEN Real story on taking aspirin

At first we were a little concerned about our aspirin recommendations, after a study on aspirin and heart disease prevention was published online in The Lancet. News headlines declared the findings showed that taking a daily low-dose aspirin wasn’t much help in protecting you from heart disease.

But after reading the actual study we discovered that the headlines should have declared: “Study Finds Aspirin Won’t Prevent First Heart Attack Unless Taken as Directed.”

So, here’s how we think you should talk to your doc about taking or continuing to take lowdose aspirin in order to prevent a first heart attack or stroke .

There is a preponderance of data that shows people who take a low-dose aspirin or more a day have a 10 to 40 percent decrease in the risk of nine cancers, and a 10 to 35 percent reduction in recurrent heart attacks or strokes.

The study in question: The ARRIVE study that’s being touted as an aspirin-debunker only required folks in the aspirin-taking group to do so 60 percent of the time. The researchers admit, some folks in the control group who were supposed to NOT take aspirin did so.

But that’s not the whole story. Among folks in the ARRIVE study who stuck with the prescribed dose of 100 mg aspirin daily, there was a 47 percent reduction in initial or first heart attacks! The aspirin had significant benefits. Clearly, being a tad compulsive about taking your meds, in this case aspirin, is a very, very good thing.

So what’s the real story? We continue to recommend taking an 81-mg aspirin twice a day with half a glass of warm water before and after, as long as you do not do extreme sports or some other activity, such as taking recreational drugs and some prescription meds or have medical conditions, such as uncontrolled liver or kidney disease, that decrease the benefits of the aspirin or increase its risks.

Mehmet Oz, M.D. is host of “The Dr. Oz Show,” and Mike Roizen, M.D. is Chief Wellness Officer and Chair of Wellness Institute at Cleveland Clinic. To live your healthiest, tune into “The Dr. Oz Show” or visit www.sharecare.com.