Tell your doctor you don't want to take the aspirin. He'll say it's okay to go off the Omeprazole...or should. As long as you are prepared to accept the increased risk of stroke at your age...and beyond. It's the same reasoning many use to tell their GPs that they will no longer take a prescribed statin. Statins simply do not have a wealth of data behind them suggesting that they will extend lives beyond a few days. Individually, individual cases, might be a vastly different story, but most people on statins won't see much of a benefit.
I can't answer about the Pycnogenol. I don't know anything about it.
Thought I would add this to the discussion:
I read a JAMA article about a year ago that said low dose aspirin causes brain bleeding over time. Now it is recommended only for stroke and heart attack victims as I understand it. My cardiologist wanted me to take 81 mg aspirin after mitral valve repair. No way after reading that article. Doing great 2 years after the repair, no aspirin taken for over a year now.
Here is a related NY Times article on aspirin. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/26/health/aspirin-bleeding-stroke-heart-attack.html
FYI, I take no meds at all. I have also read that metoprolol interferes with sodium and sugar levels. Too low an amount of sugar or salt can cause dizziness. By the way, I'm 80, eat smartly, and exercise regularly and moderately.
Thought I would add this to the discussion:
I read a JAMA article about a year ago that said low dose aspirin causes brain bleeding over time. Now it is recommended only for stroke and heart attack victims as I understand it. My cardiologist wanted me to take 81 mg aspirin after mitral valve repair. No way after reading that article. Doing great 2 years after the repair, no aspirin taken for over a year now.
Here is a related NY Times article on aspirin. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/26/health/aspirin-bleeding-stroke-heart-attack.html
FYI, I take no meds at all. I have also read that metoprolol interferes with sodium and sugar levels. Too low an amount of sugar or salt can cause dizziness. By the way, I'm 80, eat smartly, and exercise regularly and moderately.
The ref to brain bleeding is explained this way in the NYT summary article - "Older people prone to falls, which can cause brain bleeds, should be particularly cautious about taking aspirin, the findings suggest." This isn't the same as aspirin causing brain bleeding?
The ref to brain bleeding is explained this way in the NYT summary article - "Older people prone to falls, which can cause brain bleeds, should be particularly cautious about taking aspirin, the findings suggest." This isn't the same as aspirin causing brain bleeding?
Please read the JAMA article of 2023 and you will find that the results of the study do not apply only to older people prone to falls, but also to older people in general. Thanks.
Please read the JAMA article of 2023 and you will find that the results of the study do not apply only to older people prone to falls, but also to older people in general. Thanks.
Thought I would add this to the discussion:
I read a JAMA article about a year ago that said low dose aspirin causes brain bleeding over time. Now it is recommended only for stroke and heart attack victims as I understand it. My cardiologist wanted me to take 81 mg aspirin after mitral valve repair. No way after reading that article. Doing great 2 years after the repair, no aspirin taken for over a year now.
Here is a related NY Times article on aspirin. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/26/health/aspirin-bleeding-stroke-heart-attack.html
FYI, I take no meds at all. I have also read that metoprolol interferes with sodium and sugar levels. Too low an amount of sugar or salt can cause dizziness. By the way, I'm 80, eat smartly, and exercise regularly and moderately.
Appreciated all the dialogue on this topic today, your closing paragraph made a difference per Metoprolol I've stumbled across those same issues previously in various articles from credible sources and the like over time ... I continually wonder why we aren't told about these factors from our own MD's.
Appreciated all the dialogue on this topic today, your closing paragraph made a difference per Metoprolol I've stumbled across those same issues previously in various articles from credible sources and the like over time ... I continually wonder why we aren't told about these factors from our own MD's.
In many cases it is because the patient doesn't stay up to date on studies, or has such a limited understanding of medicine, that a discussion of such studies doesn't work well - and the docs have a schedule.
The medical profession, more so than almost all other professions stays up to date on studies, developments, etc. Doctors, as I am sure you are aware, are not "average" folks - they have always been brighter and better learners than their peers in elementary, high school, college, etc - and they are morally dedicated to their patients. This is why we trust them to make the best decisions for us. Do they make mistakes, sure ... is this because they aren't keeping up with studies and technology? No as likely.
My sense is that many who post and complain about their doctors, are not competent to do so - they are simply expressing an opinion. Sometimes patients may know something newer, but not normally.
In many cases it is because the patient doesn't stay up to date on studies, or has such a limited understanding of medicine, that a discussion of such studies doesn't work well - and the docs have a schedule.
The medical profession, more so than almost all other professions stays up to date on studies, developments, etc. Doctors, as I am sure you are aware, are not "average" folks - they have always been brighter and better learners than their peers in elementary, high school, college, etc - and they are morally dedicated to their patients. This is why we trust them to make the best decisions for us. Do they make mistakes, sure ... is this because they aren't keeping up with studies and technology? No as likely.
My sense is that many who post and complain about their doctors, are not competent to do so - they are simply expressing an opinion. Sometimes patients may know something newer, but not normally.
With all due respect, I could not disagree with you more. Based on working in health care for over 40 years, I can tell you that doctors are generally not more intelligent than people who have chosen other highly specialized professions. Like other professionals, they have worked hard for their degrees and (to be blunt) some are better than others. We can’t assume that all doctors are current in the latest research. I would encourage all people, if able, to do their own reading and ask questions of their peers (such as in this forum) and always ask questions of their doctors.
We are ultimately responsible for our own health and should be encouraged to do our own reading about our medical conditions and to ask our doctors about diagnoses and treatment plans. Many people are, in fact, competent enough to ask questions of their doctors and should expect explanations that they can understand.
Doctors, like the rest of us, are human and make mistakes despite their best efforts. We all share responsibility with our doctors for ensuring that our treatment plans make sense to us and meet our needs.
In many cases it is because the patient doesn't stay up to date on studies, or has such a limited understanding of medicine, that a discussion of such studies doesn't work well - and the docs have a schedule.
The medical profession, more so than almost all other professions stays up to date on studies, developments, etc. Doctors, as I am sure you are aware, are not "average" folks - they have always been brighter and better learners than their peers in elementary, high school, college, etc - and they are morally dedicated to their patients. This is why we trust them to make the best decisions for us. Do they make mistakes, sure ... is this because they aren't keeping up with studies and technology? No as likely.
My sense is that many who post and complain about their doctors, are not competent to do so - they are simply expressing an opinion. Sometimes patients may know something newer, but not normally.
mayoconnentuser1,
I don’t know whether to laugh or scream. I cannot believe that you referred to the patient (all of us) as “not competent.”
Doctors are not created equal. Someone graduated at the bottom of every medical school class.
I have a lot of doctors. On a scale of 1-10, I have a couple of tens, some fives, and the endocrinologist and the rheumatologist who treat me for osteoporosis- I know
More than one of them about the disease and the other one is too busy for me.
I find your assessment of the medical profession to be laughable in 2024.
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Tell your doctor you don't want to take the aspirin. He'll say it's okay to go off the Omeprazole...or should. As long as you are prepared to accept the increased risk of stroke at your age...and beyond. It's the same reasoning many use to tell their GPs that they will no longer take a prescribed statin. Statins simply do not have a wealth of data behind them suggesting that they will extend lives beyond a few days. Individually, individual cases, might be a vastly different story, but most people on statins won't see much of a benefit.
I can't answer about the Pycnogenol. I don't know anything about it.
Thought I would add this to the discussion:
I read a JAMA article about a year ago that said low dose aspirin causes brain bleeding over time. Now it is recommended only for stroke and heart attack victims as I understand it. My cardiologist wanted me to take 81 mg aspirin after mitral valve repair. No way after reading that article. Doing great 2 years after the repair, no aspirin taken for over a year now.
Here is a related NY Times article on aspirin.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/26/health/aspirin-bleeding-stroke-heart-attack.html
FYI, I take no meds at all. I have also read that metoprolol interferes with sodium and sugar levels. Too low an amount of sugar or salt can cause dizziness. By the way, I'm 80, eat smartly, and exercise regularly and moderately.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reactionsj,
The ref to brain bleeding is explained this way in the NYT summary article - "Older people prone to falls, which can cause brain bleeds, should be particularly cautious about taking aspirin, the findings suggest." This isn't the same as aspirin causing brain bleeding?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsPlease read the JAMA article of 2023 and you will find that the results of the study do not apply only to older people prone to falls, but also to older people in general. Thanks.
OK, was just showing what the NYT took away from the JAMA document.
sj,
Just reread, so your cardiologist repaired your heart, but you didn't like their assessment wrt aspirin? Did they agree with your decision?
Appreciated all the dialogue on this topic today, your closing paragraph made a difference per Metoprolol I've stumbled across those same issues previously in various articles from credible sources and the like over time ... I continually wonder why we aren't told about these factors from our own MD's.
In many cases it is because the patient doesn't stay up to date on studies, or has such a limited understanding of medicine, that a discussion of such studies doesn't work well - and the docs have a schedule.
The medical profession, more so than almost all other professions stays up to date on studies, developments, etc. Doctors, as I am sure you are aware, are not "average" folks - they have always been brighter and better learners than their peers in elementary, high school, college, etc - and they are morally dedicated to their patients. This is why we trust them to make the best decisions for us. Do they make mistakes, sure ... is this because they aren't keeping up with studies and technology? No as likely.
My sense is that many who post and complain about their doctors, are not competent to do so - they are simply expressing an opinion. Sometimes patients may know something newer, but not normally.
With all due respect, I could not disagree with you more. Based on working in health care for over 40 years, I can tell you that doctors are generally not more intelligent than people who have chosen other highly specialized professions. Like other professionals, they have worked hard for their degrees and (to be blunt) some are better than others. We can’t assume that all doctors are current in the latest research. I would encourage all people, if able, to do their own reading and ask questions of their peers (such as in this forum) and always ask questions of their doctors.
We are ultimately responsible for our own health and should be encouraged to do our own reading about our medical conditions and to ask our doctors about diagnoses and treatment plans. Many people are, in fact, competent enough to ask questions of their doctors and should expect explanations that they can understand.
Doctors, like the rest of us, are human and make mistakes despite their best efforts. We all share responsibility with our doctors for ensuring that our treatment plans make sense to us and meet our needs.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
5 Reactionsmayoconnentuser1,
I don’t know whether to laugh or scream. I cannot believe that you referred to the patient (all of us) as “not competent.”
Doctors are not created equal. Someone graduated at the bottom of every medical school class.
I have a lot of doctors. On a scale of 1-10, I have a couple of tens, some fives, and the endocrinologist and the rheumatologist who treat me for osteoporosis- I know
More than one of them about the disease and the other one is too busy for me.
I find your assessment of the medical profession to be laughable in 2024.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 Reactions