More than a million people with heart rhythm disorders have been told not to take aspirin to guard against stroke, in a reversal of previous [b]NHS[/b] advice. revised guidance from the [b]National Institute of Health and Care[/b] (Nice) warn that the pills are ineffective in reducing the danger for those suffering atrial fibrillation and that the risk of side-effects outweighs their benefits, reports [s]The Daily Telegraph[/s]. Nice says a new generation of drugs is far better than aspirin at reducing the danger for such patients and is less likely to cause side effects including internal bleeding. However, the report notes, experts said aspirin remained the best drug for thousands of other patients, such as 1.5m heart attack survivors, who are usually prescribed it alongside other medications, and for heart disease sufferers assessed with a high risk of stroke.
[link url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/10907673/Aspirin-cant-help-1-million-heart-patients.html]Full report in The Daily Telegraph[/link]
[link url=http://publications.nice.org.uk/atrial-fibrillation-the-management-of-atrial-fibrillation-cg180]New Nice guidelines[/link]