For several years I’ve been taking baby aspirin every night on the advice of my doctor. He told me that it is used to prevent a heart attack or stroke. I am in my mid sixties so it has been recommended for my age group. But now I have read in the health newsletter that I receive that older adults who don’t have heart disease should not take low dose aspirin daily to prevent a first heart attack or stroke.
Apparently there is no net benefit of taking aspirin for primary prevention of heart disease in people who are age 60 or older. Baby aspirin each day has a modest benefit for people ages 40 – 59 who aren’t at a risk for bleeding. Aspirin has blood thinning properties that can reduce the likelihood of blood clots forming in the arteries, but it can also cause ulcers and bleeding in the digestive tract.
I wonder if anyone has any comments on this topic. I’m going to stop taking aspirin and ask my doctor next time I have an appointment.
This applies only to primary prevention in people without known cardiovascular disease.
Aspirin is still important for secondary prevention of stroke and ischemic cardiovascular disease.