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For Immediate Release
Aspirin Foundation of America
Responds To British Medical Journal
Study On Aspirin Use Among Those
With High Blood Pressure
June 29, 2000
The Aspirin Foundation of America (AFA) today responded to a British Medical Journal (BMJ)
report that claims that aspirin therapy may not be beneficial to some men with high blood
pressure.
Dr. Thomas Bryant, president of the AFA, expressed concern that patients on aspirin therapy
for the prevention of heart disease and stroke as prescribed by their doctors, particularly
those with high blood pressure, may discontinue their use of aspirin upon hearing of the
results of this study.
Pointing out that the BMJ advised that men on aspirin therapy for the prevention of heart
disease or stroke should continue taking the medication, Dr. Bryant said, "We strongly urge
patients to consult their physicians before altering the use of their medications." In addition,
he stressed that consumers should not confuse aspirin as used in this study with the use of
aspirin during acute MI or heart attack, which has been proven to dramatically reduce the risk
of death.
Finally, Dr. Bryant echoed BMJ's warning that the report is quite preliminary. He cited a
well-respected clinical study involving 20,000 patients with hypertension; in that study, aspirin
was shown to be beneficial in significantly reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease in
those whose blood pressure was controlled.
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Contact:
Caroline Perrin
807 National Press Building, Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 800-432-3247 Fax: 202/737-8406
info@aspirin.org
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