Dr. Jane Explains

Open This Book & Say "Ahhh"

Aspirin for heart disease and colorectal cancer: Darned if you do and darned if you don’t!

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Are you in your 50’s? Do you have risks for heart disease? Do you have a family history of colon cancer? If you can say “yes” or “I don’t know” to any of these questions then pay attention!

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number one cause of morbidity and mortality in the world. Colon cancer  (CC) is the third most common cancer in men and women.  Daily low dose aspirin can reduce the risk for CVSD and CC by as much as 50%. The United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) released the latest recommendations for daily aspirin use on  April 2016.

For adults ages 50 to 59 years who have greater than a 10% chance of suffering a cardiovascular event (stroke, heart attack, aneurysm, etc.), an 81 mg daily aspirin of aspirin could improve health outcomes.

Before you jump on the aspirin-train, determine your personal heart disease risk category. One of my favorite calculators for estimating cardiovascular (CV) risk is the  Cardiac Risk Assist APP available on your android or iPhone. MOST IMPORTANT: For those who meet criteria: These guidelines are intended for people with low risk for bleeding, have a life expectancy of at least 10 more years and are willing to take daily aspirin for a total of  10 years (in order to reap benefits).

People older than 60 years who are considering low dose aspirin for primary prevention of CVD or CRC should review personal risk factors with medical provider. Potential harms associated with aspirin include excessive bruising, bleeding (including gastrointestinal bleeding).

Younger than 50 or older than 70? The jury is not out. Higher risks of gastrointestinal bleeding may make the use of aspirin for primary prevention (of stroke/heart attack) less appealing and potential dangerous.

** According to the Annals of Internal Medicine, nearly 40% of U.S. adults over 50 already take daily aspirin to prevent first time heart attack or avoid a second one.

 

Thank you,

Dr Jane

written with the help of Bailey Baker TAMU Class of 2018

My daughter failed household Infectious Disease 101…

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“Look what the dogs brought it the house!” An urgent text from my daughter with attached photo revealed a large river rat lying on our floor. Quite lifeless, its pitifully ugly body did not reflect a peaceful death.

“Get it off the floor!” I rapidly text my daughter, I was in no mood to face the stench when I got home from the clinic, “Then wash your hands!” Work done?  Not quite yet.

When I arrived home the kids were quick to boast their brave handling of a dead animal. Their quick-thinking method of nutria (large rat) removal?  “We never touched it.”  The kids had discarded the large rodent-filled bag in the kitchen garbage can. Great.

Who was I to criticize their scientific method? Honestly, other than throwing the darn thing outside in the trashcan, I would not know how to properly dis pose of our dead little friend. It was time for me to  consult my “go to”: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

I was not surprised to find that rodents carry a multitude of diseases . However, I never considered the  dead carcass a vector for leptospirosis, Hanta Virus, and salmonella (among others).

For future reference: The CDC recommends soaking the rodent and surrounding area in a bleach solution for about five minutes. Guidelines suggest placing the animal in a tightly sealed bag then throwing the bag into a covered trash can that is regularly emptied (not in the kitchen!). Lesson learned.