Aspirin a Day?

Healthcare advice is commonly confusing and depending on the source is usually a ploy to sell you a product that you may or may not need. Aspirin is one of the most common over-the-counter medications and has been extensively argued for its benefits versus risks. Recent aspirin research will prove this and the consumer will have to sort it out for themselves once again.
The most important factor to understand is that a medication will always have negative side effects. Lifestyle improvements such as improved diet, exercise and stress reduction will have side effects as well, positive ones. If you are looking for the best results, do not wait until you are sick. The treatment of sickness and disease is reactive and too late. The treatment of lifestyle factors is proactive and is always the correct time to start.

Researching Lies

A recent study published in the prestigious Lancet found that daily aspirin use will cut the risk of developing cancer. It was even suggested that it could be a treatment of cancer and prevent its spread. The researchers found that you could cut your risk by nearly a third and prevent the spread of cancer by half. This will equate to a 30-40 percent reduction in the death rate of cancer.

This is very compelling research for the drug companies to sell additional aspirin right? Aspirin is already the number one consumed medication in the world. Cancer rates are skyrocketing around the world; we all must be deficient in aspirin right? Confused yet?

Cancer is not a lack of medication; it is a lack of health. Health is something that many of us take for granted and never take care of our health to our fullest potential until disease strikes. Cancer is a condition of lifestyle. The poorer your lifestyle, the greater your risk. We should not be researching aspirin; we should be researching the effects of nutrition, exercise, stress and avoiding known toxins that have been proven to cause cancer.

Pollution, environmental factors, poor diet, cleaning products, personal care items, chemicals and toxic work environments are all examples of items that can cause cancer. If you exposed yourself to all of these factors, do you think that aspirin is going to save you?

Is That a Banana?

Andrew Chan and Nancy Cook from Harvard Medical School described the Lancet’s findings “compelling”, but noticed an apparent conflict of interest. The Lancet study did not include two large studies that did not show a reduced cancer risk and incidence of death by taking daily aspirin. These two studies were excluded because they went against the findings of the other studies.

Studies can be manipulated in any way the researchers want them to be manipulated. They could make an avocado appear to be a banana.

Professor Jankowski from the University of London has conducted a similar study that involves 2,500 patients taking aspirin as a cancer prevention. The study is not yet officially published, but the four year study found zero benefit to take daily aspirin.

Nobody Likes a Doctor Right?

Aspirin is a known blood thinner. The blood thinning properties can cause bleeding in the stomach, intestines and the brain. Every medication has its side effects, aspirin is no different. The question is would you rather have a stroke, die from internal bleeding or die from cancer? These are the options if you rely on medication for your health.

Medications are commonly required if you wait for disease to occur before you take your health seriously. Improved proactive lifestyle factors will reduce the risk of needing to use any medication, prevent the risk of developing every condition and allow you to save money, time and most importantly hospital visits. Nobody likes a doctor right? Take care of yourself and save the confusion.