We're all looking for quick health fixes even though we know that there's really no such thing. But aspirin may come close.
Many of us are already taking daily low doses of aspirin to prevent heart attacks. Now a new study in the British medical journal Lancet suggests that aspirin might also help lower the risk of certain kinds of cancers.
Researchers analyzed eight randomized controlled trials involving more than 25,500 people. Some were given 75 to 100 milligrams of aspirin a day and others were given a dummy pill.
The overall results were impressive. Regular aspirin users were 60 percent less likely to die of esophageal cancer, 40 percent less likely to die of colorectal cancer and 30 percent less likely to die of lung cancer.
The researchers also found that higher doses did not seem to provide any more protection than lower doses.
They also warn that people should not start on an aspirin regimen without checking first with their doctor. Aspirin can potentially have some negative side effects, such as bleeding.
This research could have long-range implications for scientists studying cancer. If they can understand why aspirin has a protective effect, they may begin to understand more about how cancer develops and what can be done to stop it.
For more detailed information on aspirin use, click here.