Researchers at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health have released concerning findings regarding the usage of aspirin and its potential impact on reducing heart attack fatalities.
The study, published on May 1 in the Journal of the American Heart Association, suggests that over 13,000 heart attack deaths annually could be delayed if individuals took aspirin within hours of experiencing severe chest pain.
“While aspirin is recognized as an effective and cost-efficient method to lower the risk of death from heart attacks, many individuals experiencing chest pain, a prominent indicator of a heart attack, may not be aware of this,” noted the researchers. Additionally, they highlighted that most people do not seek healthcare until several hours after the onset of symptoms.
The researchers emphasized the importance of efforts to improve access to and adherence to secondary prevention strategies, such as initiating statins and enhancing dietary quality. However, they underscored that self-administration of aspirin alone could significantly reduce heart attack mortality without imposing financial strains or necessitating long-term behavioral changes.
As for how to take aspirin during a heart attack, individuals are advised to take one regular-strength aspirin (typically 325 mg) or four low-dose (81 mg) aspirin tablets. It’s crucial to thoroughly chew them before swallowing, as this facilitates quick absorption into the bloodstream, aiding in blood thinning and circulation improvement. It’s also important to ensure that there are no allergies to aspirin and no underlying conditions that make aspirin use unsafe, such as certain bleeding disorders or a history of gastrointestinal bleeding.
