Is daily aspirin still the right choice?
| Health tips: Aspirin | | | Dear Reader,
Low-dose aspirin use is common among older adults, with about 25% of U.S. adults ages 50 to 80 taking it at least three times a week. This is largely due to earlier research suggesting it supports heart health and reduces the risk of certain cancers.
Updated national guidelines now advise a more cautious approach. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting or stopping aspirin, and weigh the risks and benefits carefully. | | Benefits may outweigh risks if . . . You’re between ages 40 and 59 and you’re at high risk of having a first-time heart attack or stroke within the next 10 years. High risk means your risk is 10% or greater. Use the American College of Cardiology's calculator to estimate your risk. You haven’t had a heart attack, but you’ve had coronary bypass surgery or a stent placed in a heart artery. Or you have chest pain (angina) or any other medical condition where aspirin is proved to prevent heart attack or stroke. You’re younger than 60 and you have diabetes and at least one other heart disease risk factor, such as smoking or high blood pressure. Risks may outweigh benefits if . . . You are over age 60, don’t currently take aspirin, and don’t have a history or high risk of cardiovascular disease. You have a condition that causes you to bleed easily. You have an aspirin allergy or asthma worsened by aspirin. You have bleeding stomach ulcers or a history of gastrointestinal bleeding. |
|
|
|
| 20% or more off Mayo Clinic books | | Shop now |
|
|
|
| Stay one step ahead of your health | | For a limited time, get 20% off Mayo Clinic Health Letter—your source for trusted, practical health advice. | | Subscribe today |
|
|
|
|
