Bedtime Aspirin Lowers Pregnancy Trouble
Bedtime Aspirin Lowers Pregnancy Trouble
Reduces Blood Pressure, Helps Prevent Premature Birth
pregnancy complicationshigh blood pressureaspirin
Researchers from Spain discovered that a low dose of aspirin -- a 100-mg pill -- eliminated premature births and significantly reduced other complications. But the trick appears to be taking the aspirin at night. Lead researcher Ramon C. Hermida, PhD, presented his findings at a meeting of blood pressure experts sponsored by the American Heart Association.
"This isn't too surprising," says Hermida. "After all, 30 years ago it was reported that aspirin taken before bed is more effective than taking it earlier in the day because it just lasts longer at that time. This is because the body's metabolism slows as we sleep."
He says that aspirin also has to be started "before the 16th week of pregnancy. If you start later, the protective effect is not evident."
Hermida says he doesn't know exactly why aspirin offers so much protection in pregnancy. However, he says one part of the puzzle may be aspirin's ability to improve blood flow and lower the risk for blood clots.
But while he and others work to figure out exactly how aspirin doles out its protection, he says it is time for obstetricians to consider recommending bedtime aspirin for pregnant women who have a high risk of developing high blood pressure or preeclampsia.
"Of course, this should only be done under a doctor's supervision," he says.
Preeclampsia causes high blood pressure and swelling during pregnancy. It can progress into eclampsia, with severe high blood pressure, that can cause seizures in the mother and can kill the mother and her unborn child. The only treatment is delivering the baby.
But Ernesto Schiffirin, MD, who led the program where Hermida presented his research, thinks Hermida may be jumping the gun with his aspirin recommendation. He cautions that Hermida is not a clinician, and he says it would be better to wait until these results are confirmed in other studies.
Hermida studied 341 pregnant women who took 100 mg of aspirin at bedtime, upon awakening, or eight hours after awakening. He compared them to pregnant women who took a placebo at the same times. The women's blood pressure was also monitored continuously for 48 hours every four weeks beginning at 12 to 16 weeks of pregnancy. The blood pressure monitoring continued through delivery and during the hours after delivery.
Bedtime Aspirin Lowers Pregnancy Trouble
Reduces Blood Pressure, Helps Prevent Premature Birth
pregnancy complicationshigh blood pressureaspirin
Researchers from Spain discovered that a low dose of aspirin -- a 100-mg pill -- eliminated premature births and significantly reduced other complications. But the trick appears to be taking the aspirin at night. Lead researcher Ramon C. Hermida, PhD, presented his findings at a meeting of blood pressure experts sponsored by the American Heart Association.
"This isn't too surprising," says Hermida. "After all, 30 years ago it was reported that aspirin taken before bed is more effective than taking it earlier in the day because it just lasts longer at that time. This is because the body's metabolism slows as we sleep."
He says that aspirin also has to be started "before the 16th week of pregnancy. If you start later, the protective effect is not evident."
Hermida says he doesn't know exactly why aspirin offers so much protection in pregnancy. However, he says one part of the puzzle may be aspirin's ability to improve blood flow and lower the risk for blood clots.
But while he and others work to figure out exactly how aspirin doles out its protection, he says it is time for obstetricians to consider recommending bedtime aspirin for pregnant women who have a high risk of developing high blood pressure or preeclampsia.
"Of course, this should only be done under a doctor's supervision," he says.
Preeclampsia causes high blood pressure and swelling during pregnancy. It can progress into eclampsia, with severe high blood pressure, that can cause seizures in the mother and can kill the mother and her unborn child. The only treatment is delivering the baby.
But Ernesto Schiffirin, MD, who led the program where Hermida presented his research, thinks Hermida may be jumping the gun with his aspirin recommendation. He cautions that Hermida is not a clinician, and he says it would be better to wait until these results are confirmed in other studies.
Hermida studied 341 pregnant women who took 100 mg of aspirin at bedtime, upon awakening, or eight hours after awakening. He compared them to pregnant women who took a placebo at the same times. The women's blood pressure was also monitored continuously for 48 hours every four weeks beginning at 12 to 16 weeks of pregnancy. The blood pressure monitoring continued through delivery and during the hours after delivery.
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