Daily aspirin 'risky' for healthy

Healthy people should not take aspirin to ward off heart attacks and cancer, according to the most comprehensive review of the risks and benefits.

There has been growing debate about whether all people over 50 should take a daily, low dose aspirin.

But the review, conducted by the research arm of the NHS, said it was a "fine balance" due to the dangers of bleeding in the brain and stomach.

Overall it warned against taking the drug, until there was more evidence.

Aspirin makes the blood less sticky so it reduces the odds of a blood clot forming inside the body, which could cause a heart attack or stroke.

There are even studies suggesting it can cut the risk of some cancers.

However, as the drug makes it harder for the blood to clot it can cause problems inside the body.

Amy Thompson, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: "Aspirin is extremely important for many heart patients, but for people free of heart disease the jury is still out as the risks are likely to outweigh the benefits.

"Further research is underway which will shed light on who else is likely to benefit the most from taking aspirin."

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