why have I been told to take an aspirin?

[Lcfc85]

recently had a couple of scans the latest being a echocardiogram. The results have came back, the consultant I spoke to said it’s ok but it’s showing right side lower chamber not working fully as it should. In the prev scan I had it said slightly elevated right side. Arteries all clear and good Blood pressure has been good. Bloods came back all good no clots etc

The consultant said he’s passed it on to cardiologist but also said in the mean time whilst you wait for an appointment take an aspirin a day. My question is why would I take this if there’s nothing to worry about?

The phone call was a couple of weeks ago and he said if it’s anything serious then the cardiologist will ring you sooner rather than later.

[Deeb1764]

maybe the equation they do for risks of heart attack or stroke shows you as this and therefore an aspirin a day helps prevent lower the risk is how it was explained to me.

[Lcfc85 in reply to Deeb1764]

yeah I get that but I was also told it was ok so seen it as a contradiction. He told me to carry on as I was with exercise etc

[Deeb1764 in reply to Lcfc85]

What I am trying to say is, you still have a cardio appointment and some issue going on, so maybe as a precaution until everything is understood he thought this was a good idea. I am still undiagnosed and been told to do the aspirin until we know what's going on and seen the consultant. regards.

[Hidden]

Your consultant has obviously decided that in spite of your lifestyle you are nevertheless considered a higher risk than normal relative to having a stroke or heart attack. In my view taking low dose aspirin is not a big deal (compared to other medication) and if it reduces my stroke/HA risk all to the good. The only slight draw back is you may bruise easier than before and you may have stomach upsets if taking dispersible but that is usually solved by taking the enteric coated type. They are cheap enough to buy over the counter at supermarkets and pharmacists, certainly cheaper than a prescription if you pay for those. So I recommend you take the aspirin as directed until you are instructed otherwise.

[JennyRx in reply to Hidden]

you can only get 75mg aspirin in pharmacies. Supermarkets don’t sell that strength

[Hidden in reply to JennyRx]

Last time I bought some (albeit a while ago) it was from Wilko! Perhaps they have changed the rules. You could always use a pill splitter 🤔

[JennyRx in reply to Hidden]

aspirin for use as an anti platelet in the dose of 75mg is a pharmacy only medicine as it’s not licensed as a painkiller like 300mg

[Hidden in reply to JennyRx]

Try Asda and Morrisons

groceries.asda.com/product/...

groceries.morrisons.com/pro...

Although Wilko, Sainsburys, and Tesco do not appear to stock them

[Lcfc85]

Thankyou. That makes sense. I will start taking it again.

[richard_jw in reply to Lcfc85]

I was prescribed aspirin (It's an antiplatelet) and stops platelets in the blood from sticking together and forming clots.

I was also prescribed a med to reduce stomach acid. If you take aspirin daily for a long time, it can cause bleeding etc.

[Mlinde]

Aspirin thins the blood, however, Asprin also elevates acid in the stomach and can lead to bleeding, hence you need to take another drug to neutralise the acid! Docs usually prescribe Omeprazole but Omeprazole can have an impact on your kidneys! I've been taking Aspirin for 13 years and I take Famitodine instead of Omeprazole which neutralises the acid in Aspirin (it's an anti-ulcer drug).

[NYA2019 in reply to Mlinde]

Asprin is a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAIDs) along with ibuprofen and a few others. Ideally, you should take this with food and a glass of water, half a pint minimum but ideally a pint. I take mine at breakfast, but if you don't have breakfast, then consider taking it as you are just about to sit down for dinner. This will help greatly with any side effect or stomach complications that you may incur.

I was told not to take other NSAIDs while taking Asprin, I can't remember why, so take advice from a pharmacist before taking other NSAID class medication.

[Mlinde in reply to NYA2019]

Well, I don't know about your GP but mine prescribed the anti-acid as taking it every day, definitely led to bleeding with me! I take it with my breakfast as well, dissolved in water.

[jerry12953]

My cardiologist told me I could stop taking aspirin. His thinking was this -

At my age (69) and given that I hadn't yet had a heart attack, the risk of side-effects from aspirin outweigh the possible benefits.

If I had already had a heart attack he would recommend that I kept on taking it.

And omeprazole can also cause bone defects if taken long term.

[Lcfc85 in reply to jerry12953]

ahh ok. I’m 37

[jerry12953]

There's so much contradictory advice coming from the medical profession. It's so difficult to know who to believe.

[Lcfc85 in reply to jerry12953]

this is where I’m at with it hence the question. I know we ain’t the experts but I didn’t feel confident with what he had said as it was like a last min suggestion whilst I was on the phone to him

[jerry12953]

Aspirin is very cheap. He will feel he has offered you something.

[wilsond]

I had to take a large dose of aspirin after a TIA to bust any possible clots.However aspirin is not an effective medication for AF. Aspirin thins the blood and breaks down clots that have already formed as in Deep Vein Thrombosis.

We need anti coagulation meds such as Warfarin,Apixaban etc. This is to slow down clot formation so that we dont form them in the bottom of our left atrium( top left chamber) if we do,the clot can be quite large,and goes straight to our brain. This is why AF strokes are the least survivable and can be devastating if survived.

Im not quite following you here when you say your consultant spoke to you about the results,but will be discussing them with a cardiologist. What speciality was this consultant?

It is likely that the aspirin is a short term precaution awaiting treatment plan. I got my dose over the counter in ASDA.[2 weels worth]

Best wishes x

[Lcfc85 in reply to wilsond]

I was sent to the day ward by my gp after telling them I was having chest pain. I had all the checks done on the day ecg, bloods, chest X-ray, all came back clear but was sent for another scan which I had a couple weeks after and that showed slightly elevated right side something or other so I then went for an echocardiogram which this consultant had told me my lower chamber wasn’t working quite as it should. I didn’t feel that confident in the way he was speaking. He just said you could take an aspirin whilst you wait for cardiology as he was sending it over to them. I’ve just spoke with my gp and he can’t see any results from the echo

[wilsond in reply to Lcfc85]

Sounds as if that person was just erring on the side of caution tbh. Hope you get sorted soon x

[frustratedasmathic]

Hi prevention is better then cure. The fact that u have had these investigations and the Consultant has advised to take the aspirin indicates that you are at risk. The alternative by not taking the medication you would be putting yourself at risk of a stroke.

Personally if I was advised to take a aspirin to prevent an illness I would do it. I work in medical insurance claims and see alot of cases where these things take place.

A Stroke is no fun. I am not familiar with the rest of your medical history but there is obviously good reason for advising on this course of action.

All the best for a healthy future.

[Rosiemycat]

Our Tesco supermarket in Banbury Oxfordshire sells 75 mg tablets of Aspirin including enteric coated ones if that helps anyone