Studies on aspirin and heart disease have shown that aspirin can help in preventing heart attacks; however, it is not right for everyone. For some people, the risks associated with aspirin (such as increased risk for gastrointestinal bleeding) outweigh any benefits. Recommendations on aspirin and heart disease suggest that, in general, people with a history of heart attack, unstable angina, ischemic stroke, or transient ischemic attack may benefit from taking aspirin.
Aspirin and Heart Disease: An Overview
In the early 1990s, strong research showed that aspirin could help in treating heart attacks. In fact, this
heart disease "wonder drug" is now given to all patients who arrive at the hospital emergency department with a suspected
heart attack, because aspirin acts to thin the blood and lessen the size of a blood clot during a heart attack.
But what about taking aspirin to help prevent heart disease or a heart attack? The answer is: it depends. There are certain groups of people for whom taking aspirin makes sense; however, it does not make sense for everyone. In some situations, the risk of aspirin outweighs the benefits.
Recommendations Regarding Aspirin and Heart Disease
The American Heart Association recommends aspirin for people in the following groups:
Aspirin is not recommended for everyone, because there are possible risks with aspirin, including an increased risk for gastrointestinal bleeding and a slight increase in a certain type of
stroke (hemorrhagic stroke) caused by bleeding in the brain.
Make sure to talk with your doctor before taking aspirin as a
heart disease prevention measure. Your healthcare provider will weigh the possible benefits against the risks associated with aspirin. Before your healthcare provider recommends aspirin to
prevent a heart attack, he or she will consider a number of factors, including your:
Also, regardless of whether you are taking aspirin, people should adopt the well-proven heart disease prevention approaches. These ways to prevent heart disease include:
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