By Emily Miller
Most people view aspirin as a wonder drug, due to its ability to help stave off heart attacks and clot-related strokes.
But fewer than half of the people who could benefit from a daily low-dose aspirin take it, while many others take it when they shouldn’t, according to the Harvard Medical School.
Daily low-dose aspirin (81-mg) is ideal for an individual who has recently suffered from a heart attack or an ischemic stroke – the type caused by a blood clot. It is also ideal for those who face a high risk of having a heart attack or have had bypass surgery or angioplasty to treat a narrowed heart artery.
If you don’t have heart disease, but do have high blood pressure, diabetes or other risk factors for heart disease, don’t automatically assume that taking aspirin everyday is a good idea.
“A lot of people take aspirin who really shouldn’t,” says Dr. Christopher Cannon, a cardiologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. “Everyone assume aspirin is harmless, but it isn’t.”
Like any other drug, there are downsides (e.g., gastrointestinal bleeding) that may outweigh the benefits.
People take aspirin to help make blood platelets less “sticky” and less likely to clump in the bloodstream, which ultimately helps prevent blood clots from forming.
This is beneficial because most heart attacks happen when a clot blocks blood flow in a vassal that feeds the heart. Dampening the clot-forming process lowers the odds of a blockage.
Conversely, aspirin inhibits the formation of substances that protect the stomach’s delicate lining. This could result in an upset stomach or even bleeding in the stomach and/or intestines.
Anyone taking daily low-dose aspirin and notices one or both of these conditions should contact their physician immediately, urges Dr. Cannon.
Taking aspirin with food may help because it helps coat the stomach and intestines while the medicine breaks down. So can taking medication to treat heartburn, which also protects the stomach. These include Tums, acid blockers like famotide (generic, Pepcid, Fluxid), or proton-pump inhibitors such as omeprazole (generic, Prilosec, Zegerid).
A pill that combines aspirin and omeprazole may be available soon, according to the Harvard Medical School.
Before starting daily aspirin therapy, it’s best to consult with a trusted physician to weigh the risks and benefits. It is also important to factor in other health conditions, other medications and even one’s weight.
You can also conduct your own self-assessment by calculating your risk of having a heart attack or stroke over the next 10 years. The Harvard Medical School provides a list of risk calculators here. If your value is 10 percent or higher, daily low-dose aspirin may be helpful. But the decision should ultimately be based on a discussion with your doctor.
Taking precautionary steps – such as taking daily low-dose aspirin – can increase one’s longevity and improve overall health. It is also advisable to annually check one’s current health insurance policy and update, if conditions worsen or improve.
