from Columbia University Medical Center
Emphysema is an unrelenting progressive disease. Its victims are usually smokers or those exposed to cigarette smoke. However researchers at Columbia University Medical Center in New York discovered regular use of aspirin appeared to slow progression of emphysema. In more than four thousand participants, using aspirin three or more days per week was associated with a significantly slower progression over ten years as measured by CT scans, compared to those who did not use aspirin--even after taking into consideration factors such as age, rate of smoking and hypertension. Researchers say aspirin may reduce progression of emphysema by reducing the platelet activation involved in many vascular diseases or reducing inflammation. The study was presented to the American Thoracic Society International Conference