Dr Oz and Aspirin

[carolmaccas66, BSN, RN]

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?

[Chin up]

I was taught to give an Asa right away.

[umcRN, BSN, RN]

I was also taught to always give aspirin, and have them chew it for quicker absorption

[bjaeram]

Give the Asprin! I'm not sure where you got the 80% but I guarentee that is wrong!

[Nascar nurse, ASN, RN]

Give ASA ASAP. 80% allergic??? never heard this.

[AgentBeast, MSN, RN]

Yeah there is no way that 80% of the population is allergic to aspirin. If that were the case there is no way the FDA would allow it to be sold as a prescription drug let alone OTC.

[lpnstudentin2010, LPN]

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

[Flo., BSN, RN]

I was taught to have them chew ASA. 80% allergic is way off base.

[KarmaWiseRaven]

I was taught give aspirin and if they cant take or chew it crush it for them. Never heard 80% of people are allergic to it. I think you misunderstood some thing. But then again in this line of work anything is possible..

[ErinS, BSN, RN]

Heart attack emergency care: MONA: morphine, oxygen, nitro, aspirin. Most people will only have the aspirin in the home, but may as well get it started. If they do not take it in the home, the EMS crew will give it to them en route to the ER.

[boushie87]

I'm in my first semester of nursing school and three different professors (NPs and PhDs) have instructed give aspirin. If the clot that causes an MI, stroke, etc if platelet rich (which it usually is if it's arterial, such as an MI) the aspirin could save their life. I rarely say things are straight out wrong but your 80% stat is 100% wrong I work at an oral surgeons office and input everyone's allergies. I'd say maybe 1%, probably less, of ppl (and we get everyone from 4 yr olds to 100 yr olds) are allergic to ASA. I mean, the most prevelant allergy in PCN and I'd say that's only about 5% (maybe 10% AT THE MOST) that I've seen. Not sure what the actually stat is for that though. I think the next most prevelant allergy is to sulfa drugs.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

Give the aspirin!

Have no idea from what source you learned that 80% of people are allergic to ASA, but ... as an experienced nurse, do you find that to be the case? In caring for countless patients, have you found 80% of them to have a documented allergy to aspirin?

Also note the intended audience: this advice is being directed at lay people in a home setting.