Aspirin is one of the most widely used medications in the world and is taken both for pain relief and to prevent blood clots.
For decades, many people have taken a daily tablet in the belief that it protects the heart. New research, however, has significantly changed that perception.
New recommendations
International health authorities now recommend that healthy older adults should not start taking daily aspirin to prevent cardiovascular disease.
According to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and the American Heart Association, there is insufficient evidence that the benefits outweigh the risks for this group.
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This shift is based in part on three major studies from 2018, including research published in The Lancet, which showed that aspirin did not provide the expected protection against heart attacks and strokes in people without prior heart disease.
At the same time, the risk of serious bleeding increased, particularly in the gastrointestinal tract.
Why the advice changed
Aspirin works by making the blood less likely to clot. For a long time, this seemed like a simple and logical way to prevent blood clots.
But according to physician Alex Krist, who worked on the updated recommendations, the new research findings fundamentally changed doctors’ assessments.
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Today, it is recommended that the decision to take aspirin be made on an individual basis and only after weighing both the risks and the potential benefits.
Who should take aspirin?
There are still groups who benefit from daily aspirin.
This includes people who have previously had a heart attack, an ischemic stroke, or certain circulatory diseases.
According to physician John Mafi, the benefits in these cases outweigh the risks.
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The recommended dose is low, typically 81 milligrams daily. Higher doses do not provide better protection but do increase the risk of bleeding.
Donald Trump’s use
U.S. President Donald Trump has been cited as a current example in the debate over daily aspirin use.
According to The Wall Street Journal, he continues to take a high daily dose of 325 milligrams, even though his doctors have recommended a lower amount.
Trump has said that he believes aspirin is necessary to keep his blood thin.
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A statement from the White House has also indicated that his heart examinations are normal, and there have been no reports of previous heart attacks or strokes.
Sources: The New York Times, U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, American Heart Association, The Lancet, and The Wall Street Journal.
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