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HealthWatch: Aspirin Fights Heart Attacks, But Daily Doses Not For All

LOS ANGELES (CBS 5) -- Many adults take aspirin to prevent heart attack or stroke, but a new study now confirms it's not for everyone.

The research published in the Archives of Internal Medicine provides more evidence that only people who are at higher risk for heart attack and stroke should be taking aspirin.

Researchers looked at several studies involving more than 100,00 people without prior heart disease. While they had fewer heart attacks, taking aspirin didn't lower death rates.

"We know that aspirin works in people who are high and even moderate risk. It's the people who are low risk that we're really not sure whether using an aspirin a day or every other day is beneficial," said Dr. Tara Narula of Los Angeles' Lenox Hill Hospital.

Doctors note that patients have to consider the side effects of taking aspirin, since it can increase the risk of bleeding in the stomach and intestine.

Doctors recommend that patients without a history of heart problems talk with their physician first to see if aspirin is the right choice.

(Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All rights reserved.)

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