Post-stroke aspirin could be helpful

Taking Aspirin within minutes after a minor stroke could lower the risk of major stroke that may occur within few days of initial attack, a study claims.

Immediate self-treatment with aspirin has been found to be useful in patients who have had a stroke or experienced stroke-like symptoms or transient ischemic attack, which is regarded as a mini-stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). The study found that early aspirin administration could reduce the risk of major stroke

A team of European researchers has said that immediate self-treatment with aspirin when patients experience stroke-like symptoms would considerably reduce the risk of major stroke over the next few days.

Aspirin is being considered as a safer, long-term prophylactic therapy to prevent further strokes and to reduce risks by 15%.

The present study examined the medical records of 16,000 patients who were enrolled in 12 clinical trials. The patients were on long-term aspirin as secondary prophylaxis to cut out further stroke risk. The study also analyzed the data of 40,000 patients from three clinical trials who were on aspirin as treatment of acute stroke.

Almost all of the aspirin-takers were benefited after acute stroke, particularly who took aspirin within first few weeks of initial stroke attack. The prophylaxis has also reduced the severity of further, acute strokes.