Stroke, TIA Treatment Update: Aspirin Is More Than Just Immediate Treatment

Immediate aspirin intake can substantially lessen major stroke risk in people who are experiencing 'warning' events. European researchers have found out that immediate self-treatment can lessen the risk of experiencing major stroke in the next following days.

Aspirin is usually given to patients, who have experienced transient ischemic attack or stroke in the past. The medication aims to hamper the occurrence of further strokes in a long-term plan, reducing subsequent risk of stroke by 15 percent, Health News reported.

An Oxford EXPRESS study, however, suspected that these benefits are more like an immediate treatment option than what it has been perceived in the past.

The study's lead researcher Peter Rothwell, the University of Oxford's stroke expert explained "The risk of a major stroke is very high immediately after a TIA or a minor stroke (about 1000 times higher than the background rate), but only for a few days. We showed previously in the 'EXPRESS Study' that urgent medical treatment with a 'cocktail' of different drugs could reduce the one-week risk of stroke from about 10% to about 2%, but we didn't know which component of the 'cocktail' was most important."

Rothwell also added that one of the treatments used was aspirin; however, other trials have revealed that aspirin's long-term benefit in preventing a stroke episode is modest. They have also suspected that the medication's early benefit is greater. Taking aspirin, therefore, as soon as the patient can after the warning symptoms can be worthwhile.

Following the study, the researchers have found out that most of aspirin's benefit is in the reduction of another stroke episode possibility. Also, aspirin can reduce the severity of a stroke's effects.

The aspirin study's findings also confirm that the medication is effective as an urgent treatment right after a minor stroke or TIA. Immediate treatment with the use of aspirin can significantly reduce the severity and risk of recurrent stroke episodes.

The Oxford EXPRESS study on aspirin, further, has strong implication for doctors. They should give aspirin immediately when a minor stroke or TIA is suspected, instead of waiting for a specialist to assess the patient, Science Daily reported.