Maybe you heard that taking aspirin daily can help prevent heart attacks and strokes. For years, experts touted this habit as a good way to help protect a person’s cardiovascular health. But the benefits and risks of consuming aspirin vary from person to person, and daily consumption is not appropriate for many people.
Most heart attacks and strokes occur when blood flow to the heart or the brain is restricted. In most cases, this restriction begins with plaque building up in the arteries. When the plaque ruptures, dangerous blood clots might form that can block arteries leading to the heart or the brain.
Because aspirin thins the blood, it can help prevent life-threatening blood clots from forming. For these reasons, aspirin can benefit people who had a heart attack or stroke or people who are at a higher risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Doctors are also discovering new ways that aspirin can benefit patients recovering from surgery.
Potential Benefits of Aspirin After Surgery
The blood-thinning properties of aspirin may also soon change the standard of care for people who have surgery for bone fracture repair, which can also increase the risk of blood clots forming, including clots in the lungs known as pulmonary embolisms.
Current guidelines recommend that patients who have this type of surgery receive an injectable blood thinner known as low-molecular-weight heparin to lower their risk of developing a clot. But according to the results of a recent clinical trial by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, over-the-counter aspirin provides the same benefits as the injectable medication.
The multi-center study enrolled more than 12,000 patients with fractures in the leg, arm or pelvis. One-half of the participants were randomly assigned to receive 30 milligrams (mg) of injectable low-molecular-weight heparin two times a day. The remaining half of the participants received 81 mg of aspirin twice daily.
The study found that the aspirin was as effective as the injectable blood thinner at preventing blood clots. Researchers are optimistic that these results could lead to changes in guidelines on how to prevent blood clots following fracture surgery, as aspirin is easier to administer and lower cost than low-molecular-weight heparin.
Who Should Take Aspirin Daily?
Some people who are at high risk of heart attack or stroke can benefit from daily aspirin to improve heart health and prevent a first heart attack or stroke. Those people generally have one of the following risk factors:
- A family history of cardiovascular disease or stroke
- Being overweight or obese
- Conditions such as diabetes, chronic kidney disease and certain chronic inflammatory conditions
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- History of smoking
For some people at high risk, as well as those who have already had a heart attack or stroke, doctors may recommend taking a daily low-dose or baby aspirin (usually 81 mg). However, you should always talk to your doctor before beginning aspirin therapy.
Risks and Side Effects of Aspirin
In 2019, new studies concluded that the risks of daily aspirin outweigh the benefits for many people. According to guidelines issued by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, people ages 60 and older who do not have heart disease and those under 60 who are not at risk of stroke or heart attack should not take aspirin daily. Aspirin may increase the risk of bleeding, and taking it daily for a long period can put adults at a much greater risk of experiencing gastrointestinal bleeding.
You should also not take daily aspirin if you:
- Are at higher risk for gastrointestinal bleeding or hemorrhagic stroke
- Drink alcohol on a regular basis
- Have an allergy to aspirin
- Will be having any medical or dental procedures in the near future
If your doctor recommends a daily aspirin regimen for you, be aware that you might experience side effects. These include:
- Diarrhea
- Itchiness
- Nausea
- Skin rashes
- Stomach pain
If you experience any signs of unusual bleeding, contact your provider right away. Examples of unusual bleeding can include:
- Blood in the urine
- Bloody or black, tarry stools
- Coughing up blood
- Frequent nosebleeds
- Heavy bleeding from cuts
- Unusual bruising
- Very heavy menstrual bleeding or unusual vaginal bleeding
- Vomit that looks like coffee grounds
Other serious side effects can include difficulty breathing, chest pain, dizziness and trouble swallowing.
Does Daily Aspirin Help During a Heart Attack or Stroke?
If aspirin can help prevent a heart attack in people with cardiovascular disease, can it also help if someone is having a heart attack?
The answer is: possibly. The first thing to do in this situation is to call 911.
Never take an aspirin and wait for symptoms to disappear.
Symptoms of a heart attack include:
- Chest pain
- Discomfort in the center or left side of the chest
- Feeling faint or nauseous
- Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, shoulders or the jaw, neck or back
- Shortness of breath
When you call 911, the operator may ask questions to determine whether taking an aspirin is right for you or if it is too risky. Emergency medical personnel can make this determination as well.
On the other hand, aspirin is not recommended during a stroke. Taking aspirin could make bleeding in the brain more severe.
The medical community has worked hard to spread awareness by making it easy to recognize stroke symptoms, using the acronym BE FAST.
- B-Balance: trouble walking, loss of coordination, dizziness
- E-Eyes: loss of vision, double vision, eyes fixed to one side of the body
- F-Face: asymmetry, drooping, twisting
- A-Arm: weakness or inability to hold one’s arm up
- S-Speech: slurred speech, confusion, not being able to put words together
- T-Time: the need to act immediately is of utmost importance
If you suspect you are having a stroke, call 911 immediately.
More to Read
- Stroke 101: How to Identify and Prevent Stroke
- Why a Mini-stroke Poses a Big Risk to Your Health
- Women’s Heart Attack Symptoms: Do You Know the Signs?
- How to Avoid Heart Disease
Medically reviewed by Niteen Milak, MD.
