Aspirin can Reduce Blood Clot Risk

Aspirin - the popular painkiller - can reduce the risk of blood clots in some people, a new study suggests.

The researchers said that low doses of the drug can act as a viable solution to counter clot risk in candidates that aren't using anticoagulants such as warfarin.

"The study provides clear, consistent evidence that low-dose aspirin can help to prevent new venous blood clots and other cardiovascular events among people who are at risk because they have already suffered a blood clot," said John Simes, professor at the University of Sydney and lead author of the study.

"The treatment effect of aspirin is less than can be achieved with warfarin or other new generation direct thrombin inhibitors, which can achieve more than an 80 per cent reduction in adverse circulatory and cardiopulmonary events," Simes said in a news release.

The researchers found that people who took 100mg daily of aspirin had a one-third reduction in the risk of thromboembolism, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism. These people also had a decreased risk of suffering cardiac arrests and strokes.

They said that people who suffer from blood clots are put on a anticoagulant drug therapy for about six months. Later, doctors adjust the drug dose depending on clot risk. The current study shows that some people can switch to aspirin to reduce blood clot risk rather than relying on conventional blood thinners.

The study is published in the journal Circulation.

Previous research has shown that daily dose of aspirin can help people reduce their risk of developing and dying from cancers of the colon. However, studies have also shown that the drug could up eye disease risk.

Blood clots can be fatal. Consult a doctor before using any drug for the condition.