Millions of Americans take a daily low-dose aspirin for the purpose of primary prevention of cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke. The goal of primary prevention is to help the patient avoid a harmful initial event. This is especially important in the elderly and individuals who are at high risk of heart disease or stroke. Depending on the patient's individual circumstances, the appropriate dose of aspirin can vary. A physician is the most qualified individual to determine what the appropriate dose of aspirin is for a patient.
Cardiovascular Health
The primary function of the heart and cardiovascular system is to supply blood to various tissues and organs throughout the body. Unfortunately, blood vessels can become blocked by plaques and clots made of lipids and platelets. When the blood vessels supplying the heart or brain become blocked, patients may experience what is commonly referred to as a heart attack or stroke, respectively. Unfortunately, the tissues of these vital organs can become permanently damaged if they have been deprived of oxygen-carrying blood. The risk of having a cardiovascular event is increased by other factors, including excessive weight, lack of exercise, smoking, family history, diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
How Aspirin Works
As a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, aspirin is widely available for purchase without a prescription and has commonly been used for the treatment of fevers and mild pain. However, aspirin has also been found to have an inhibitory effect on platelets. This property has made aspirin a useful drug in the prevention of clot formations that can cause heart attacks and strokes. Unfortunately, aspirin can also cause gastrointestinal ulcers and other problems with bleeding.
Dose for Aspirin
Many clinical studies have found that aspirin significantly reduced the primary occurrence of heart attacks and other cardiovascular events. Unfortunately, the doses used in each individual study greatly varied. In 2010, the American Diabetes Association and American Heart Association published online a joint consensus statement that low-dose aspirin in the range of 75 mg to 162 mg per day should be used for primary prevention in patients at risk of cardiovascular events.
Considerations
Although aspirin is relatively safe, it can cause problematic bleeding. If possible, the use of enteric-coated aspirin formulations may help protect against gastric ulcers. Patients with certain risk factors, disease history, health conditions and prescription drug use may require a different dosing range of aspirin. Patients should consult with a physician to determine the appropriate dose and formulation of aspirin to be used for the purpose of cardiovascular protection.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Daily Aspirin Therapy -- Understand the Benefits and Risks
- "Circulation"; Aspirin for Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Events in People With Diabetes: A Position Statement of the American Diabetes Association, a Scientific Statement of the American Heart Association, and an Expert Consensus Document of the American College of Cardiology Foundation; Michael Pignone, et al.; May 2010
- World Health Organization: Cardiovascular Diseases
