Aspirin might not be as safe as normal American usage may imply, according to a recent government study.New regulations released in March 2009 by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force claim a daily aspirin regimen may increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and ulcers in elderly patients.The new regulations are based on an August 2009 study by Wolfson Unit for Prevention of Peripheral Vascular Diseases in Edinburgh, Scotland. It concluded aspirin had no effect on cardiovascular events but major bleeding did occur in 1 percent of the study group.Aspirin has been linked to greater odds of intestinal bleeding because aspirin prevents blood clotting. Aspirin has long been subscribed by physicians to help reduce the odds of a stroke or heart attack. The most commonly prescribed dose is 81 milligrams, or the equivalent of baby aspirin, said Dr. Frank Wolfsheimer, Baton Rouge gasterologist.”On the order of 2 to 6 percent of the population have ulcers with or without the medicine [aspirin],” Wolfsheimer said. With the medicine, doctors have noticed “double the incidents … in users,” Wolfsheimer said.Wolfsheimer also said about 12 million people experience the negative side effect of ulcer bleeding because aspirin harms the stomach lining. There are other important factors that must be considered. A patient with high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels or diabetes should consult his or her doctor before beginning a regimen.Men between the ages of 45 to 79 and women from 55 to 79 are almost always recommended to still take the regimen — especially people who have had a heart or stroke. “I would always recommend an aspirin regimen to someone who has never suffered any history of G.I. bleeding,” Wolfsheimer said. People over 80 aren’t recommended to take an aspirin regimen because they have a much higher chance of gastrointestinal bleeding, Wolfsheimer said. Teenagers and children are also discouraged from regularly taking aspirin because the odds of a cardiac episode are unlikely. Many students said they’ll still continue using aspirin for pain despite the study’s results.”If it increases the odds 100 percent, then I would stop,” said Sean McIntosh, art sophomore. New science is emerging to truly investigate the side effects of aspirin, but doctors continue to recommend the drug to help combat the effects of cardiac episodes, Wolfsheimer said. Most doctors agree there is some risk, but the benefits outweigh them, Wolfsheimer said.—-Contact Andrew Hanson at [email protected]