A consultant physician and cardiologist, Prof. Ayodele Omotosho, on Friday, said daily intake of low dose aspirin would prevent blood clotting, also known as blood platelet.
Omotosho, the Vice President of West African College of Physician in Nigeria, disclosed this in an interview in Abuja.
He says blood clotting or coagulation is an important process that prevents excessive bleeding when a blood vessel is injured.
He explained that platelets (a type of blood cell) and proteins in plasma (the liquid part of blood) work together to stop bleeding by forming a clot over the injury.
Omotosho, a cardiologist at College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, attributed the incidence of stroke to clotting of the blood vessel to part of the brain, which could eventually lead to the death of a part of the body.
He said “the rationale behind the intake of low dose aspirin is that various organs of the body are supplied blood through vessels and if there is any injury in the lining of any of the vessels like the platelet, the aspirin will serve as corrective measure.
“The use of low dose aspirin is to prevent blood clotting, thereby reducing the incidence of stroke, heart attack, among others.
“Stroke occurs when the blood vessel to part of the brain has a clot and that part of the brain dies. If it happens in the vessels in the heart, the person ends up having heart attack.’’
He added that aspirin was generally used as an analgesic (something that relieves pain without producing anesthesia or loss of consciousness) for minor aches and pains, to reduce fever (an antipyretic), and also as an anti-inflammatory drug.
The consultant, however, noted that many people could not tolerate aspirin due to its negative effect on the stomach or the gastrointestinal tract.
He cautioned people with blinding tendency not to take aspirin for pains.
He said “we do not prescribe aspirin for people who have the tendency to become blind and for high menstrual flow, among others.
“There are other drugs that are usually prescribed for people with menstrual pains medically called dysmenorrheal as it is not advisable for them to take aspirin.
He, however, advised Nigerians to eat right, avoid sedentary life, cut down salt intake and alcohol, as well as ensure regular medical check-up.
According to him, these will go a long way in preventing incidences of non-communicable diseases among others.
