Pharmacists may soon start warning customers against taking one aspirin a day on the back of research that suggests the painkillers cut the risk of cancer deaths.
Taking 75mg of aspirin per day with a glass of milk for five to ten years can reduce the risk of dying from cancer by 20 to 30 per cent, research published in the journal Lancet has found.
The study's authors urged doctors to increase their prescription of the painkiller, which has also been shown to cut chances of heart attacks and strokes.
However, medical professionals advised patients to talk to their doctor before deciding to take a dose of the over-the-counter medication each day.
Dr Dominique Thompson of Bristol University's health service told the Evening Post: "It would seem that GPs will have a real opportunity to improve certain people's life quality and expectancy in the future but only if we have a clearer idea of who might benefit from long-term use of low-dose aspirin."
Written by Megan Smith
Source www.mediplacements.com 9th December 2010