A low daily dose of aspirin can help reduce the risk of heart disease and strokes, according to the American Heart Association. You may be prescribed aspirin if you have other factors predisposing you to heart disease, or if you have already had a heart attack or stroke. The most common dose is 81 mg per day, roughly one-fourth of the strength of a regular aspirin. Always consult your doctor before beginning low-dose aspirin therapy.
Heart Disease and Strokes
If you have coronary heart disease, your arteries become narrow and blocked due to the buildup of cholesterol and a fatty, sticky substance called plaque. This affects the ability of blood to flow in your body. Most of the damage occurs when plaque becomes fragile and breaks off, causing blood clots to form. These can block the blood flow, or break off and travel to another part of your body. If a clot blocks a blood vessel that leads to your heart, it causes a heart attack. If it blocks one that feeds your brain, it causes a stroke.
How Does Aspirin Work?
Aspirin works by thinning the blood and preventing clots from forming, improving the blood flow to the heart and brain. It also helps keep arteries open if you have had a stroke or angioplasty -- surgery to open the arteries. As well as taking aspirin, you are advised to follow a healthy diet, exercise regularly and give up smoking. Women should have no more than one alcoholic drink a day, and men no more than two.
Who Should Take It?
Doctors often prescribe a low dose of aspirin to men aged 45 to 79, and women aged 55 to 79, who are at risk of stroke or heart disease. Risk factors include smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, an enlarged heart and atrial fibrillation, which means an irregular heartbeat. It is also recommended if you have a family history of heart disease or if you have have already had a heart attack or a stroke. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, aspirin reduces the risk of heart attacks in men, but not women. However, it has been shown to cut women's risk of a stroke by around 17 percent, notes the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
Risks
Daily aspirin treatment is not recommended if you are at low risk of heart disease or stroke. Drugs.com warns it can increase the risk of stomach bleeding. It is not advised if you have a stomach ulcer, a stroke caused by bleeding in the brain or asthma that is made worse by aspirin. Some people also have an allergy to aspirin. Because it reduces the ability of the blood to clot, you should not take it before any kind of surgery. If you're on a low-dose aspirin regimen, avoid excessive alcohol consumption, as this could lead to liver damage. You should also avoid using it with other anti-inflammatory medicines, such as ibuprofen or naprosyn.
References
- American Heart Association: Aspirin and Heart Disease
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Talk With Your Doctor About Taking Aspirin Every Day
- Drugs.com: Aspirin
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; For Women: Taking Aspirin to Prevent Strokes; April 2009
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; For Women: Taking Aspirin to Prevent Heart Attacks; April 2009
