aspirin

"This is consistent with minor soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin, which is taken as part of a standard cardiovascular prevention regimen," he said.

In the trial, a European-sized dose of 100 mg aspirin was used.

Regular aspirin comes with risks and trials are still trying to figure out which patients are most likely to benefit.

The High Street pharmacy chain Boots is asking customers to return packs of 500-milligram paracetamol tablets because a labelling error incorrectly states they are a different painkiller, aspirin.

One of the winning bids last December was an aspirin tablet selling for less than one cent.