Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Aspirin: Ancient, Effective, Cheap Preventative Medicine

The 2,000-Year-Old Wonder Drug by David B. Agus.  The New York Times Op-Ed Page.  December 11, 2011.

Making a compelling case for public health policies that encourage middle-aged people to use aspirin, Agus cites research indicating the effectiveness of aspirin for cardiovascular disease and cancer.  He puts aspirin forward as a cost-effective strategy of prevention instead of a costly strategy of treatment.  He points to behavior-shaping and modification strategies, such as those advocated by Mayor Bloomberg, as vital for public health.  He raises the question of the public consequences of private health decisions.

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