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Why A Daily Aspirin Is Probably Good For You, Your Heart, Your Colon -- The Final Recommendations -- They Promise

By Dr. Dave Hnida

(CBS4) - Okay, the idea of a daily aspirin  has been tossed around for more than a decade. And over that time there has been a hodgepodge of advice over what you should be doing. And I know, it seems different almost every month we hear -- hey, here's new advice and new guidelines.

But on Monday the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force says: this is it. The Recommendations. This is what you should do. And this is what we doctors should be talking to you about. And it looks like they finally have nailed it down after analyzing barrels of data. In other words, it looks pretty solid.

If you are a man or woman between the ages of 50-59, and you have risk factors for heart disease, you should consider popping a daily baby aspirin. Even better, that daily 81mg will also lower your risk of colon cancer. Risk factors include high blood pressure, family history, smoking, overweight, diabetes, and so forth.

If you are between the ages of 60-69. the advice also applies to you, although you perhaps really need to delve into your risk of side effects, such as stomach bleeding, a little deeper.

Age 70 and older, ah, maybe that aspirin isn't that much of a help.

The keys are: you need to know if you are at risk for stomach or intestinal bleeding; whether you have at least a 10-year life expectancy (in other words, no other serious diseases), and once again, you are NOT at a higher risk of stomach bleeding -- from medicines or other medical conditions.

Bottom line: Talk to you doctor, and I don't mean Dr. Google. A physician who knows you and your risk factors.

And then keep these things in mind:

We do believe popping that aspirin is best at night (because your risk of blood thickening and heart attack is greatest in the A.M. -- so have it on board and working the night before).

Acetaminophen is not aspirin -- it does nothing to "thin" the blood or lower the risk of a blood clot in the heart arteries or brain.

Other meds, even ibuprofen or naproxen (Aleve) may cancel the protective effect of aspirin (this is one other major reason to talk to your doc!)

And in terms of colon cancer, the protection doesn't happen overnight -- it takes years of daily aspirin. And even here we are not exactly sure on how many years.

So even if we pronounce this is the final word -- it probably isn't. But it is a discussion you and your doctor should be having. One day we will figure it all out.

Oh and btw, keep your weight down, the blood pressure normal. your diet healthy, kick the smokes, and shuffle off the couch and move: things are better than any little pill. And you don't need a task force to tell you that. You can do it!

Dr. Dave Hnida is CBS4's Medical Editor. He blogs about the latest studies and trends in the health world. Read his latest blog entries, check out his bio or follow him on Twitter @drdavehnida.

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