Dr Oz and Aspirin

[carolmaccas66]

Me and Mum were watching Dr Oz yesterday. He was reviewing what to do with his 'helper' and the audience member when someone has an MI in the bathroom. One of the first things he said was: Keep aspirin in the medicine cabinet and give that sublingually. Now, I for one was not taught this. As far as I was taught, up to 80% of people are allergic to Aspirin; if they have an anaphylactic reaction, there's no point in giving it. I would not give anything myself - unless they were on GTN or I KNEW they weren't allergic to Aspirin. But there's also a risk they could choke on the Aspirin.

I think this is the wrong advice. Just curious as to what everyone else has been taught? What do you think of this advice, and what would you do in this situation?

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

I think an allergic reaction would be the least of my worries. I give aspirin first and foremost.

[wee_oneRN]

From http://www.healthtipscity.com/allergy/aspirin-allergy.php

1% of the population is allergic to Aspirin. This 1% includes milder reactions such as hives or rash.

[Jenni811, RN]

I was taught Aspirin right away. i think when that many people are allergic, its not a true anaphylactic reaction type allergy. Sometimes a sensitivity can be classified as an "allergy" in some peoples terms.

I dont know but i was taught aspirin right away. I can tell you now though, that i was taught NOT to keep medicine in a cabinet in the bathroom because of the moisture from a shower, causes elevated temperatures in medications. Repeated elevations in temperatures can decrease the effectiveness of some medications.

[mkjh]

Are you a nurse?

MI = MONA...morphine, oxygen, nitro, asprin.

And Dr Oz gives advice to average lay people, not medical people. If someone is having an MI at home, it would be great if they went ahead and took an asprin before the ems arrived.

[dthfytr, ADN, LPN, RN, EMT-B, EMT-I]

I won't repeat the advice already given, it's correct. There are a few people truly allergic to aspirin, a lot avoid it due to gastrointestinal side effects.

IMHO Dr Oz is a hunk for the women to watch, but a number of times I've heard some questionable advice from him. Most recently he was telling people to refuse dental x-rays. I've seen studies in Great Britain saying that if you drink a caffeinated beverage (Soda's, Coffee, etc) the diuretic effect isn't that strong and you'll end up with a net fluid gain. Dr Oz says the opposite. Those ar just 2 examples.

To give credit where it's due, he's got a great social presence, especially for a surgeon, and he's in incredible physical shape. He also does a great job of teaching complex subjects in a way comprehendable by the lay public.

[GilaRRT]

Just to be clear guys; MONA in it's original and literal form is on the way out. Giving oxygen to every patient is no longer emphasised. Also, morphine should be used very cautiously in certain patients such as unstable angina. However, I agree with the aspirin for most patients.

[nrsang97, BSN, RN]

You give ASA as soon as someone has symptoms. I think you are way off base with the 80% allergy rate on ASA.

[nrsang97, BSN, RN]

Very few people are TRULY allergic to asprin. Most quote an allergy to asprin as "stomach upset" which is a side effect not an allergy. Most of the general public dosen't understand the difference between a side effect and an allergy.

[Old.Timer]

Well all I can say is this, if I am having a MI and someone happens to be in my house and I happen to have ASA in my medicine cabinet, I hope that they will go ahead and assume that it is unlikely that I am not allergic to ASA and give it to me pronto.

[ChuckeRN, BSN, RN]

I just took a CE class where the nurse speaker helped to rewrite part of the 2010 ACLS protocol. According to her, O2 should not be given for patients with >95% O2 Sat.

And ASA for sure.

I also happened to talk with a flight nurse who told me that they like Fentanyl more than Morphine for a variety of reasons for stabilizing MI patients.

Just to be clear guys; MONA in it's original and literal form is on the way out. Giving oxygen to every patient is no longer emphasised. Also, morphine should be used very cautiously in certain patients such as unstable angina. However, I agree with the aspirin for most patients.

[ChuckeRN, BSN, RN]

Oh, and the one time I saw Dr. Oz on TV, all I could think was, "Why are his scrubs so tight???"

[carolmaccas66, BSN, RN]

also have been taught give asprin and never heard of your 80% would be interested where you got that statistic

I don't know the actual source of the statistic as the St John Ambulance here in Oz teaches the CPR courses. That's what we were told by the instructor, and we DID question it, though I know many people are allergic to Aspirin.