Share

Heart attack? Chew aspirin

accreditation
Women with heart attack symptoms take longer than men to call for help.
Women with heart attack symptoms take longer than men to call for help.
Experts advise that if you think you're having a heart attack, the first thing you should do is chew an aspirin tablet.

But because aspirin starts to break up as soon as it touches your tongue, why chew it instead of swallowing it?

Here's why, according to the American Journal of Cardiology. Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School recruited 12 volunteers and measured the length of time it took for the aspirin to inhibit blood clotting, which is the reason to take it after a heart attack.

They found that swallowing a whole aspirin takes 12 minutes to have any effect on your blood's clotting time; drinking a liquid remedy containing aspirin takes seven minutes to work, but chewing a regular aspirin tablet begins showing benefits in only five minutes. - (HealthScout News)

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE