Is Aspirin A Day Advice Wrong?

Hi and welcome to this week’s look at what’s making headlines in natural health on iHealthTube.com…

It seems a daily aspirin became as common as the apple a day saying… both would keep the doctor away or… help keep you healthy.  But a recent study shows that one of them might not be true.

The study, done in Australia, consisted of nearly 20 thousand people in Australia and the U.S. with an average age of 74.  Half received daily 100 milligrams of aspirin, slightly higher than the typical ‘low dose’ of 81 milligrams.  The other half received a placebo.  After five years, there was no difference between the two when it came to ‘disability-free survival.’  However there was a higher rate of internal bleeding in the aspirin group.  

The results indicate that taking a daily aspirin had no affect on cardiovascular health but did have a significantly higher risk of bleeding… primarily in the gastrointestinal tract and brain.

Could the products you use to clean around the house have an affect on your child’s weight?  According to a recent study, there is a connection.

The study done in Canada looked at 750 infants at age 3 to 4 months… looking at their weights again at ages 1 and three years, and their exposure to disinfectants, detergents and eco-friendly products used in the home.  Gut flora was altered in the 3-4 month olds most frequently with households that used disinfectants like multi-surface cleaners.  When these infants were 3 years old… their body mass index was higher than this not exposed to heavy use of disinfectants as infants.

Babies living in households that used eco-friendly cleaners also had different microbiota… but were less likely to be overweight later.  However the use of eco-friendly products may be linked to overall healthier lifestyles like eating habits in those households.

The addiction of pain pills continues to be a big problem… but researchers are closer to finding a safer alternative to pain relief… by using sugar pills.

The study out of Illinois shows scientists can predict when patients with chronic pain will respond to a sugar placebo… based on the patients’ brain anatomy and psychological characteristics… even if you tell the patient.  The senior author explained there is a biology behind the placebo affect.  The chronic pain patients that benefited from the sugar pills had similar brain anatomy and psychological traits.  They were also emotionally self-aware, and mindful of their environment.

The potential benefits could of course be a reduction in drugs that are often addicting and have other long-term adverse effects.

That’s a look at what’s making headlines in natural health this week.  Make sure to go to iHealthTube.com and sign up for our free email newsletter to stay connected to the latest in natural health.