Taking aspirin regularly can prevent people from becoming infected with the coronavirus, according to a new study.
Researchers in Israel found that those who regularly took a low dose of the over-the-counter drug were 29 percent less likely to be infected with the virus, the Jerusalem Post reported.
The study, which was published in the FEBS Journal of the Federation of European Biochemical Societies, looked at data from 10,000 Israelis tested for COVID-19 between February 1 and June 30.
Researchers compared patients who regularly take low-dose aspirin to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease with those who don’t take the medication.
In addition to being less likely to catch the virus, aspirin can also help shorten the duration of the illness.
Aspirin users who contracted the virus had shorter periods and were less likely to have long-lasting symptoms.
Professor Eli Magen of Barzilai Medical Center said this may be due to the drug’s anti-inflammatory properties.
She said more research is needed to explore the benefits of aspirin in fighting the virus.
“This observation of the potential beneficial effect of low-dose aspirin on COVID-19 infection is preliminary but looks promising,” she said.