About aspirin therapy
In addition to lifestyle changes, medications are sometimes needed to help prevent or control coronary heart disease and reduce the risk of a first or repeat heart attack. Aspirin is one of these, helping to lower risk of heart attack and to keep arteries open in those who have had a previous heart bypass or other artery-opening procedure such as coronary angioplasty.
Aspirin has been shown to be helpful when used daily to lower the risk of heart attack,
clot-related strokes and other blood flow problems. Many medical professionals prescribe aspirin
for these uses. There may be a benefit to daily aspirin use for you if you have some kind of heart
or blood vessel disease, or if you have evidence of poor blood flow to the brain. However, the
risks of long-term aspirin use may be greater than the benefits if there are no signs of or risk
factors for heart or blood vessel disease.
Aspirin is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for prevention of heart attacks in healthy individuals. Aspirin use may be harmful for some persons, especially those with no risk of heart disease, and can result in serious side effects including stomach bleeding, bleeding in the brain, kidney failure, and some kinds of strokes. Patients must be assessed carefully to make sure the benefits of taking aspirin outweigh the risks. Talk to your doctor about whether taking aspirin is right for you, being sure to discuss the following during your office visit:
- Your medical history and the history of your family members
- Your use of other medicines, including both prescription and over-the-counter types
- Your use of other products, such as dietary supplements, including vitamins and herbals