Aspirin At Bedtime Could Reduce The Risk Of A Heart Attack

An aspirin nightcap might reduce the risk of suffering a heart attack in the morning, research suggests.

Scientists gave the painkiller to 290 heart patients who were told to take it either upon waking or at bedtime over two periods of three months.

At the end of each period, their blood pressure and platelet activity were measured.

Blood pressure was not affected, but aspirin taken at night led to a significant reduction in platelet activity. Lowered platelet activity, which peaks in the morning, is likely to result in less blood clotting and a reduced risk of heart attacks.

"Because higher platelet activity contributes to a higher risk of acute heart events, this simple intervention - switching aspirin intake from morning to bedtime - could be beneficial for the millions of patients with heart disease who take aspirin on a daily basis," said lead researcher Dr Tobias Bonten, from Leiden University Medical Centre in the Netherlands.

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Worst Foods For Your Heart

Processed Meat(01 of08)

Hot dogs, bacon, sausage and deli meats -- even lean ones like turkey -- are made with loads of sodium and preservatives, often including nitrates and nitrites, both of which have been linked to heart problems. "With processing, you lose control over the quality of the ingredients," says Cynthia Thaik, M.D., a Los Angeles-based cardiologist.Processed meats are also higher in saturated fat and lower in protein than any red meat you could prepare yourself, writes director of the Yale Prevention Research Center and HuffPost blogger, David Katz.Not convinced to stay away? Processed meats have also been linked to a higher risk of diabetes and pancreatic cancer. (credit:Flickr:plindberg)

Red Meat(02 of08)

Yes, the processed picks are worse for your heart, but that doesn't mean you should go wild for steak. Instead, consider it more of a treat than a staple in your diet: It's still high in saturated fat, even when it's unprocessed. "I don't want to suggest that we have to go [completely] plant-based," says Thaik, "but moderation is always the key."If you're not planning on changing your carnivore ways anytime soon, at the very least pick a lean cut of beef, which, according to the USDA, contains less than 10 grams of total fat and 4.5 grams of saturated fat. Or opt for extra-lean, with 5 grams of total fat and less than 2 of saturated fat. Of the 29 cuts that meet these regulations, five are extra-lean, according to the Mayo Clinic, including eye of round roast or steak, sirloin tip side steak, top round roast and steak, bottom round roast and steak and top sirloin steak. (credit:Flickr:Ideas in Food)

Pizza(03 of08)

That cheesy slice may contain as much as two thirds of your daily recommended limit of saturated fat, according to Real Age, which is found mostly in animal products like beef, pork, butter, cream and milk. The American Heart Association recommends getting no more than 7 percent of total daily calories from saturated fat. (Based on a 2,000-calories-a-day diet, that totals out to about 15 grams a day of saturated fat). And even though you may think it's "just cheese," many dairy products are actually highly processed, says Thaik. To lighten up, skip extra cheese and top with veggies instead of pepperoni or sausage. (credit:Flickr:Bitman)

Alfredo Sauce(04 of08)

When you consider that the ingredients in this heavy sauce are butter, cream and cheese, it's easy to see why serving up this pasta dish would pose saturated fat problems -- especially if you're dining out where sauce is ladled over piles of noodles.If you really love an alfredo dish every now and again, ask for the sauce on the side and stick to just a tablespoon or two. If you're making your own at home, try a lightened-up recipe, like this one from SparkPeople, which replaces butter with olive oil, cream with skim milk and cuts down on the amount of cheese. (credit:Flickr:kthread)

Trans Fats(05 of08)

These fatty acids are created through processes that make vegetable oils more solid, according to the American Heart Association. They're cheap to produce, are used to make packaged and prepared foods last longer and can be re-used in frying. But trans fats raise LDL or "bad" cholesterol while also lowering HDL or "good" cholesterol, thereby putting your heart at risk. While a number of manufacturers have cut back on trans fat use in light of these health risks, packaged snacks, baked goods and some margarines may still contain it, according to EatingWell. Look for hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils on ingredients lists and beware the "zero trans fat" labels -- many are hiding .5 grams and rounding down to zero. But considering that the AHA recommends getting no more than 2 grams a day, that adds up, and fast! (credit:Flickr:joyosity)

Fried Foods(06 of08)

As restaurants use their frying oil over and over again, the fat becomes more and more saturated, according to Live Science. And, as mentioned previously, trans fats are often lurking. Even though some restaurants may have cut back in the face of mounting health concerns, a number of joints still fry with solid oils like shortening, says Thaik.However, a 2012 found that how you fry makes a big difference. Among 41,000 Spanish adults, researchers found no link between fried food consumption and heart problems, likely because cooking with heart-healthy olive oil is more common than in the U.S, Time.com reported. (credit:Flickr:LearningLark)

Soda(07 of08)

"When we think of heart disease, a lot of people think cholesterol and fat, but we know that sugar, as it relates to obesity and the effect it has on insulin, has a lot to do with the development of artherosclerosis," says Thaik. In fact, drinking one sugary beverage a day leads to a 20 percent increase in a man's risk of having a heart attack, according to a 2012 study, even if those empty calories aren't causing weight gain, CNN reported. Soda has previously been linked to increased rates of heart disease in women, as well.And diet soda isn't any better. A 2012 study found that a daily diet soda increased risk for stroke, heart attack and death, although the exact cause is not yet fully understood. (credit:Flickr:Public Domain Photos)

Fast Food(08 of08)

There's little on the drive-thru menu that isn't loaded with saturated fat, trans fat, sugar or sodium, making most of your orders recipes for disaster. And the consequences for the heart are nearly immediate. A 2012 study examined the effects of fast food on the arteries after just one meal and found that the ability of the blood vessels to dilate dropped by 24 percent, YouBeauty reported."Not just fast food but processed food in general has a very high sodium content just by the pure nature of having to do the preservation," says Thaik. Soups and soy sauce are obvious culprits, she says, but saltwater sushi and even bread can be more surprising sources of salt. (credit:Flickr:cgo2)

But not everyone is convinced. The Daily Mail quoted Maureen Talbot, of the British Heart Foundation as saying: "We know aspirin can be vital in reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Research into the best time to take a daily dose of aspirin is an interesting idea, but we would need to see much larger and longer studies before a change in practice can be recommended.

"For now, keep taking your daily aspirin as recommended by your doctor. If you have any concerns about your medication, talk it through with your GP."

Heart disease may not be the only thing that aspirin can help reduce. Recently, the link between a reduced risk of colorectal cancer and aspirin usage was revealed.

Oncologist Barry Boyd blogged on HuffPost US: "Two important papers appeared in Lancet in April 2012 (1, 2) reporting the striking findings from five large randomized cardiovascular prevention trials with many thousands of individuals from Great Britain. Participants were randomized to either daily low dose aspirin or a placebo. Those individuals on aspirin had a significant reduction in overall cancer mortality and more importantly, the largest benefit appeared to be in limiting the spread of cancer or cancer metastasis."

The findings were presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions meeting in Dallas, Texas.

1. Effect of daily aspirin on risk of cancer metastasis: a study of incident cancers during randomized controlled trials. Rothwell PM, Wilson M, Price JF, Belch JF, et al.

Lancet. 2012 Apr 28; 379(9826):1591-601.

2. Short-term effects of daily aspirin on cancer incidence, mortality, and non-vascular death: analysis of the time course of risks and benefits in 51 randomized controlled trials.

Rothwell PM, Price JF, Fowkes FG, Zanchetti A, et al. Lancet. 2012 Apr 28; 379(9826):1602-12.

aspirin heart care guidelines high blood pressure Health heart disease prevention

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