Taking aspirin before bed decreases morning heart risks

A new trial suggests that taking 100mg of aspirin before bed reduces the risk of suffering a heart attack in the morning.

16:40 20 November 2013

The ‘Aspirin in Reduction of Tensions II’ trial, which was participated by 290 heart patients suggests that taking 100mg aspirin before going to bed reduces the risk of suffering from a heart attack in the morning.

Researchers from Leiden University Medical Centre in the Netherlands concluded that patients who took the tablet enjoyed lower level of platelets by 22 units, which prevents blood clotting at night.

One of the researchers, Tobias Bonten, explained: “Higher platelet activity contributes to a higher risk of acute heart events.

“This simple intervention – switching aspirin intake from morning to bedtime – could be beneficial for the millions of patients with heart disease who take aspirin on a daily basis.”

Based on official figures, there are about 103,000 people in the United Kingdom who suffer a heart attack each year. Today, that number has reached 1.3 million. The research aims to encourage many of these people to take aspirin regularly in order to reduce the risk of suffering another heart attack.

However, the findings was released less than a month after experts warned that taking aspirin on a daily basis can lead to side effects such as internal bleeding.