Flu shots may reduce the risk of heart attack. In a study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, researchers compared medical records of approximately 16,000 first-time heart attack victims age 40 and older with medical records of about 62,700 people who hadn't had heart attacks. After factoring out such major risk factors as smoking and family history, flu shots were linked to a 19% reduction in first heart attacks occurring the following year. Those who got their flu shot early in the flu season had a 21% reduction - and for them the following year "flu" by.
Something else that may lower the risk of heart attack, as well as stroke, are red onions. Researchers at the Chinese University of Hong Kong fed crushed red onions to hamsters that had been on a high-cholesterol diet. After 8 weeks their LDL (bad) cholesterol had dropped 20%, but there was no change in their HDL (good) cholesterol. According to the lead researcher, these findings support the claim eating red onions regularly reduces the risk of coronary heart disease. Red onions are a staple of the Mediterranean Diet recommended by the Mayo Clinic and others; so when using onions, think red to "red-uce" LDL cholesterol.
Think aspirin for reducing the risk of colon cancer. According to a Scottish study published in the journal Gut, patients taking 75 mg of aspirin daily for a year (a lower dose than standard baby aspirin) reduced the risk of colon cancer 13% compared with nonusers. After 5 years the relative risk reduction was 37%. From previous studies it's known aspirin reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke. Also, aspirin - used as paste - reduces the size and redness of pimples and reduces dandruff when added to shampoo. It seems aspirin is a part of "aspirin-g" to better health.
When taken intravenously, aspirin reduces the pain of migraines. In a study published in the American Academy of Neurology, researchers reviewed records of 168 patients hospitalized in London for chronic, daily headaches. After being given an average of 5 doses of intravenous aspirin, two-thirds of the patients experienced reduced pain. There are 29 million migraine sufferers; and they take an average of 4 medications, including some that are highly addictive or sedative. Intravenous aspirin is a treatment widely used in Europe, but as of 2010 it hasn't been approved by the FDA. I'm not sure what reduces that headache.
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