As I continuously emphasize, stress kills! Stress contributes to strokes and heart attacks, otherwise known as cerebrovascular accidents and cardiovascular accidents (cardiac arrests).
Leading up to strokes and heart attacks, patients often experience problems with blood clots (thrombus) and/or blood clots that travel (embolism). Physicians often prescribe aspirin (ASA) to patients with a history of strokes, heart attacks, blood clots, and/or traveling blood clots. In instances where physicians refer patients to a drug store to pick up "Baby Aspirin," I often get an opportunity to chat with them.
The question I usually get is, "Where is the baby aspirin?" Sometimes, they will present with a 325 mg bottle of aspirin saying, "My doctor told me to buy a bottle of 'Baby Aspirin' and to take one every day for my heart."
Both scenarios are an opportunity for me to point out the difference between "Baby Aspirin" (81 mg tablet) and adult/regular aspirin (325 mg tablet). Since aspirin is categorized as a "blood thinner," anyone can understand the big difference between a 81 mg tablet ("Baby Aspirin") and a 325 mg tablet (adult/regular aspirin).
Unless advised by your physician, aspirin is not a drug that should be taken everyday. Conditions such as Reye's Syndrome can develop, when aspirin is taken inappropriately.
So, when your physician tells you to stop by a drug store and pick up a bottle of aspirin, get that advice in writing and take it with you for reference, so that you don't accidentally grab the wrong bottle and overdose yourself.
And that's my tip for today ;-) HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!!!
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