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| |  An Aspirin (ASA) A Day Keeps First Heart Attack Away - Health Canada Confirms It Proven Pain Reliever Aspirin Now Indicated by Health Canada For Primary Prevention of Heart Attack and Stroke TORONTO, ON -- July 31, 2002 -- Today Bayer Inc. announces that Health Canada has approved the use of Aspirin® (ASA) for primary prevention, to reduce the risk of first heart attacks and strokes in individuals deemed to be at sufficient risk. The new indication is important as it recognizes that a physician- recommended regimen of Aspirin, taken daily, has the potential to save the lives of thousands of Canadians every year. Heart attack strikes 75,000 Canadians each year, causing more than 22,000 deaths.(1) "Health Canada has confirmed what many doctors have known for some time, says Dr. Anatoly Langer, Cardiologist, Canadian Heart Research Centre. "The official, clinically proven indication is wonderful news as it will increase confidence among physicians in recommending the use of Aspirin to help prevent a first heart attack to the benefit of patients at risk." According to Dr. Langer, the primary prevention indication can also help educate at risk patients and encourage them to proactively discuss the potential benefits of a daily Aspirin regimen with their doctors. "Now those who are at risk for heart attack based on risk factors which include family history of heart attack, diabetes, smoking, high blood pressure, or cholesterol can attack the problem with the help of their doctors before it attacks them, so to speak." Aspirin (ASA) has already been indicated by Health Canada for use during acute myocardial infarction, or heart attack, and for secondary prevention of certain cardiovascular diseases. The Acute MI indication, made public in June of last year, recommends the use of Aspirin within the first four hours of a heart attack to reduce a person's risk of fatality by up to 25 per cent. Acute MI results when a blood clot obstructs a coronary artery supplying blood to the heart muscle. Aspirin works by reducing the tendency of blood platelets to clot and block arteries during heart attack. Aspirin has been approved for secondary prevention since 1981. For men and women over the age of 50, the secondary prevention use of Aspirin -- a regimen of one tablet a day -- may reduce the reoccurrence of a heart attack or stroke by 26-28 per cent.(2) Patients should consult their physicians to determine their risk factors and whether an Aspirin regimen is appropriate for them. Acetylsalicylic acid was discovered more than 100 years ago at Bayer's laboratories in Germany in 1897. Aspirin brand of ASA was established in 1899. Bayer Inc. is committed to leading the search for new life saving uses for Aspirin over the next century. In addition to Aspirin, Bayer Inc. is the maker of other OTC brands such as Canesten (vaginal and topical antifungals), Flintstones (chewable vitamins and minerals) and One A Day (vitamins and minerals), DEX (glucometer) as well as Rx products such as Adalat XL (hypertension therapy) and Avelox (oral antibiotic). Bayer Inc., the Canadian subsidiary of the international group Bayer AG (Germany), is research-based with major businesses in life sciences, polymers and specialty chemicals. Headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, with a major manufacturing site in Sarnia, Ontario, Bayer Inc. employs more than 2,200 people. References: SOURCE: BAYER INC.
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