Carolyn Sussman, Cox News Service

 

Most everyone has heard of the benefits of taking aspirin to prevent a heart attack.

 

Low-dose aspirin on a daily basis - - check out the packages in stores that sell the dosage this way - - has been shown to reduce heart attacks. But what about the value of aspirin during a heart attack?  How many publications or doctors advise us about taking aspirin if you think you're having a heart attack?

 

Aspirin has been recognized as an extremely valuable way to deal with a heart attack by the American Journal of Cardiology.  And a recent article discusses not only the the value of getting aspirin into  your system fast, but how best to do this if you think you're having an attack.

 

There is an optimum way to take aspirin if you think you're having a heart attack;  chew it or crush it.  Uncoated aspirin is the best for this.  But if you only have coated aspirin, known as enteric, go for it anyway, although it won't dissolve as well.

 

"You need to get to the hospital fast.  You also need to get some aspirin into your system quickly," the Journal explains.  "Aspirin helps by inhibiting platelets.  Only a tiny amount is needed to inhibit all the platelets in the bloodstream; in fact, small amounts are better than high doses.  But since the (blood) clot (causing the attack) grows minute by minute, time is of the essence."

 

Studies have compared swallowing aspirin, chewing it for 30 seconds, and drinking four ounces of Alka-Seltzer, to see which got into the system the fastest.  Chewed aspirin worked the quickest.

 

"People who think they may be having an attack need an extra 325mg of aspirin, and they need it as quickly as possible.  For the best results, chew a single full-sized 325mg tablet."

Source:  The Charlotte Observer