New aspirin research should come with health warning says The Stroke Association

Statement from The Stroke Association in response to research published today in The New England Journal of Medicine on the use of aspirin in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in women.

"The Stroke Association says that new research showing that an aspirin every other day can help prevent stroke in women over 45 is welcome. But it should come with a serious health warning.

Aspirin thins the blood and can therefore help prevent a blood clot forming in the brain - the cause of most strokes. But because of its blood thinning qualities and the way it can affect the lining of the stomach people should always get advice from their GP.

The Stroke Association welcomes this research as further proof that aspirin can prevent stroke, as it is both a preventable and treatable condition. Almost one in four men and nearly one in five women aged 45 can expect to have a stroke if they live to 85 years and three times more women die from stroke than breast cancer. "

The New England Journal of Medicine website

For further information please contact The Media Team at The Stroke Association on 020 7566 1500 or email press@stroke.org.uk

Notes to editor

1. We run a national Stroke Information telephone helpline: 0845 30 33 100.

2. Each year over 130,000 people in England and Wales have a stroke. Of all people who suffer from a stroke, about a third are likely to die within the first 10 days, about a third are likely to make a recovery within one month and about a third are likely to be left disabled and needing rehabilitation. A quarter of a million people are living with long-term disability as a result of stroke in the UK.

3. The Stroke Association is the only national charity solely concerned with combating stroke in people of all ages. It funds research into prevention, treatment and better methods of rehabilitation and helps stroke patients and their families directly through its community services. These include dysphasia support, family support, information services, welfare grants, publications and leaflets. We also campaign, educate and inform to increase knowledge of stroke at all levels of society and we act as a voice for everyone affected by stroke.

4. A stroke happens when the blood supply to the brain is disrupted. Most strokes occur when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood to the brain. Some strokes are caused by bleeding in or around the brain from a burst blood vessel. When the blood supply is disrupted, parts of the brain become damaged or destroyed. Some strokes are fatal whist others can cause permanent or temporary paralysis to one side of the body and loss of the ability to speak, read or write. Recovery may be slow and can vary from person to person.

back to top|