It now appears that not everybody responds equally to aspirin's anti-platelet effects. Some people require higher doses, some don't respond at all. Fortunately, we are now able to determine, with a simple in-office blood test, whether someone's aspirin therapy is effective. For further information about this new test, click here (you will need Adobe Acrobat to view the link). Maybe not.

Yes, amazing but true: aspirin has been proven in many studies to help prevent both heart attacks and strokes. Aspirin thins the blood a little in a way that decreases heart disease risk. Acetominophen and ibuprofen will not do the same thing. Aspirin should be a routine part of any effort to decrease the risk of developing heart disease, but talk with your doctor before starting it.

Aspirin and ibuprofen will not affect a whole blood donation. Apheresis platelet donors however must not take aspirin or aspirin products 48 hours prior to donation. Many other medications are acceptable. It is recommended that you call the donor center ahead of time to inquire about medications you have a question about.

You should not delay calling 9-1-1 to take an aspirin. Studies have shown that people sometimes delay seeking help if they take an aspirin (or other medicine). Emergency department personnel will give people experiencing a heart attack an aspirin as soon as they arrive. So, the best thing to do is to call 9-1-1 immediately and let the professionals give the aspirin.

In many cases, yes. Aspirin and other blood-thinners prevent your blood from clotting. It is important that you tell the surgeon or his/her staff that you are taking these medications. Your surgeon will decide whether you have to stop it before surgery. Your surgeon will coordinate with your internist before stopping any medications. One or two days after surgery, you may resume taking them based on your physician's recommendation.

Approximately 11% of patients (440/4,000) enrolled in 4 of the 5 endoscopic studies were taking aspirin (<=325 mg/day). In the Celebrex™ groups, the endoscopic ulcer rate appeared to be higher in aspirin users than in non-users. However, the increased rate of ulcers in these aspirin users was less than the endoscopic ulcer rates observed in the active comparator groups, with or without aspirin.

The standard care for heart failure patients today consists of vasodilators medications, beta blockers, digoxin and diuretics including aldactone. Vasodilators are medications that reduce the blood pressure and make it easier for the heart to pump blood. There are a variety of classes of vasodilators, the most effective in heart failure being the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors also known as ACE-inhibitors.

If your symptoms of heart failure recur or worsen the first thing you should do is contact your health care provider. Your provider will evaluate you to be sure no new cardiac problems such as arrhythmia have developed, and to look for other conditions that might cause deterioration such as infections, uncontrolled hypertension, or the development of new diseases.

Aspirin is a blood thinner, which can help prevent a heart attack by ensuring the blood does not stick to and plug blood vessels in the heart. Where there are such risk factors as age, diabetes, obesity and a family history of heart disease, a simple low dose of Aspirin every day (80 mg or a quarter of a tablet) can reduce the chances of having a heart attack by as much as 50 per cent. Before you start taking Aspirin every day, discuss with your doctor.

Some angina symptoms - such as chest pain, sweating, and nausea - may seem like a heart attack. Yet there are significant differences between these two conditions. Heart attack lasts much longer than angina (more than 20 minutes versus 1 to 10 minutes), and, unlike angina, heart attack symptoms continue even after a person rests. Heart attack is a very serious condition that results when a coronary artery in the heart is completely blocked.

The first question in such a patient is to reconsider the etiology of TIA or stroke. If no cause is found that is amenable to special treatment, no established guidelines are available. Some clinicians opt for anticoagulation for a limited period (e.g. 6 months) and then return to aspirin. Some clinicians, however, prefer an alternative antiplatelet agent such as clopidogrel, ticlopidine, dipyridamole or a combination with aspirin.

Please notify the phlebotomist, so more pressure may be used when the blood draw is finished, in order to prevent heavy bruising.

The concept of taking vitamins to prevent heart disease is a great one--the problem is that we don't have any proof that they really do. Our only evidence is based on nutritional surveys that suggest that people who eat foods richer in vitamin E, vitamin C, and others are less likely to have heart disease. However, these same people could be getting more exercise and watching their health in many other ways, so these studies don't prove that it's the vitamins that make the difference.

No. Currently, insulin only comes in a liquid form. Experiments with pill forms have shown that our saliva and stomach acid damages the insulin and decreases its effectiveness. Diabetes pills help your body produce more insulin or use your own insulin more effectively, but they do not contain insulin.

After you have registered for a video course, you should attend the orientation session in order to receive the syllabus for each video course you are taking. The syllabus will provide you with information concerning the text book(s), tests, and other assignments as well as contact information for the instructor or required class meetings. These syllabi are available only from the Instructor.

If you are using chelation for your heart or arteries, then consider the amino acids arginine (1 tsp twice a day) lysine (1 tsp 2 times a day) , vitamin C with bioflavinoids (2 grams 2 times a day), cod liver oil (1 tsp twice a day) and lecithin (1 tbs twice a sday)as well. Cod liver oil is best taken in bottled form (not capsule) and should be refrigerated at the store where purchased as well as in your home where stored.