An Aspirin A Day: 5 Things You Need to Know

Many people are taking an aspirin a day to keep the doctor away, instead of the proverbial apple. If you are among those taking aspirin daily, you should consider the drug’s effects on your body and its essential nutrient stores. Here are 5 things you should consider:

1. Increased loss of folic acid in urine as well as reduced blood levels of folic acid have been found in arthritics taking aspirin. Folic acid is necessary to help us deal with stress, to keep our immune system strong, and as a coenzyme that ensures the proper functioning of many biochemical reactions in our bodies. To counter the lost folic acid, most doctors recommend 400 mcg of folic acid daily for arthritics taking aspirin.

2. Aspirin can cause gastrointestinal bleeding that causes loss of iron from the body. If continued over the long-term, iron-deficiency anemia can result. Women, particularly menstruating women, may be vulnerable to anemia. Be sure to have your iron levels tested. Iron supplementation may be beneficial in cases where iron deficiency is confirmed with laboratory tests. Read more about iron requirements and vegetable-based sources.

3. Aspirin may deplete vitamin B12 in people with heart disease. The drug can also damage the stomach in some cases, an organ that plays a critical role in vitamin B12 absorption. Vitamin B12 is necessary for our energy levels, balanced moods, memory and nervous system functions. Supplementary vitamin B12 may help address any deficiencies of this nutrient.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Margie B.

10:06PM PST on Jan 6, 2012

It is obviously a personal decision to take aspirin or not.
I feel the benifits are greater then the negative effects.
Everyone should be taking at least a multi vitamin anyway.

send a green star

Ray D.

6:29PM PST on Nov 7, 2011

Very informative, thanks for the article.

Deborah L.

9:27AM PST on Nov 6, 2011

i'd say the benefits sometimes outway and to make sure you get zinc vitamin C folic acid and b vitamins tylenol is a lot scarier and really popular

Sonny H.

1:53AM PDT on Nov 3, 2011

I thought it was safe to take daily!

Anita P.

4:48AM PDT on Nov 2, 2011

This is good info, although I take an aspirin maybe 3x per week. I do this to prevent a nasty cluster headache that I sometimes wake up with. These are very intense headaches and I find this helps ME, I have not had a headache in quite sometime. I also find the effects of aspirin as a pain reliver to last a couple of days so I do not agree with taking it every day. Aspirin is also an anti-inflamatory. You may want to take note of the article that was in AARP about the dangers of taking all pain relievers including IB. I agree with the person who would prefer to stay away from all drugs!
There is an herb considered to be "herbal aspirin", White Willow Bark, as always check with your doc first.

Past Member .

8:27AM PDT on Nov 1, 2011

I prefer to stay away from all medicine.

I use sacred energy flows.

Cathy N.

10:43PM PDT on Oct 28, 2011

~I agree with most Care2 members that this is very useful information!~

Rita W.

9:51AM PDT on Oct 28, 2011

thanks

Khairieh A.

3:55PM PDT on Oct 27, 2011

One problem I suffered with a baby-asprin-a-day (advised by a doctor) was terrible bruising, this is not mentioned here but it was bad. I had big dark blue bruises all over, and a simple tripping over the pavement became a three week ordeal with swollen bruised ankle. Stopped the asprin in 2004 and had no problems since :)