Aspirin: lifesaving or life-threatening?

"An aspirin a day won't keep a heart attack away - unless you've already survived one, according to doctors from the United Kingdom and America. There is growing evidence that people taking a daily low dose of aspirin will not avoid having a heart attack - unless they are already suffering from cardiovascular disease - but may suffer from serious side effects such as intestinal bleeding. However, conflicting messages from guidelines and research may be creating confusion. For example, in early 2008 the American Heart Association updated their guidelines and recommended a routine dose of aspirin for women over 65 irrespective of risk. Due to the potentially serious side effects of aspirin, and its apparent ineffectiveness as a primary prevention therapy to avoid heart attack and stroke, some doctors are now warning people to think twice about the drug. In the latest edition of the British Medical Journal, published research from the UK and an editorial from America sound a warning to patients and doctors when it comes to prophylactic use of aspirin to lessen the risk of having a cardiovascular event" - Consult Magazine