"The groundwork of all happiness is health." - Leigh Hunt

Weight can determine how much aspirin is required to stop a heart attack.

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Low-dose aspirin therapy has been shown to assist prevent heart attacks, but a study within the August 4, 2018 issue of The Lancet Suggests that men who weigh greater than 154 kilos may have the next dose. Researchers analyzed 10 trials that evaluated each day aspirin therapy for heart problems prevention in 120,000 men and girls. Study participants had no history of heart or vascular disease. The researchers found that low-dose aspirin — 75 to 100 milligrams per day — was related to a reduced risk of heart attack and stroke in each men and girls weighing lower than 154 kilos.

However, there was no significant effect for heavy patients. (About 80 percent of men within the study were on this group.) The reason? The researchers hypothesized that chubby people even have higher levels of esterase, an enzyme that reduces the supply of aspirin within the body.

This doesn’t mean that chubby people cannot profit from aspirin therapy. It could also be that they need more food. However, we’d like additional research to find out whether higher doses of aspirin are effective in obese individuals and to find out the best dose. If the next dose is required, there’s a trade-off, as higher doses of aspirin may increase the danger of bleeding.