Aspirin before Bed More Effective against Heart Attacks

Numerous science articles continue to explain the importance for those with a high risk of heart attacks to take a reduced dosage of aspirin daily, in order to reduce that risk. Now, a new study breaks those benefits down further, according to when the aspirin is taken. The findings suggest that taking the aspiring before bed may further reduce the odds of having a stroke or heart attack in the morning. Aspirin works by preventing platelets from forming clots, which can lead to strokes or heart attacks. People are more likely to suffer from a heart attack during the morning hours, meaning that reducing platelet activity during this period of time could be exceptionally beneficial at preventing heart attacks. Researchers from the Netherlands studied 290 patients who already had heart disease, and who were already on an aspirin regimen. For the study, participants took 100 milligrams of aspirin, either immediately after waking in the morning, or before going to bed over two three-month periods. The participants’ blood pressure and platelet activity were measured at the end of each three-month period. The results of the study indicated that taking aspirin at bedtime did not reduce blood pressure, but it did significantly reduce blood platelet activity. Tobias Bonten, study author from the Leiden University Medical Center, presented the data at the Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association in Dallas. The significance of the study results were that the platelet activity is at its highest in the morning, the same time that heart attacks and strokes are likely to occur. Since taking the aspirin at night has a greater impact on platelet activity when taken at night, simply changing the dosage time could make taking low-dosage aspirin more effective at protecting high-risk individuals from heart attacks and strokes. However, since the risks and benefits of aspirin therapy vary between individuals, patients should not start taking it every day without consulting their physicians.