Should I Take Low-Dose Aspirin to Prevent a Heart Attack?

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States.  Taking daily low-dose, or baby aspirin, is a known heart attack preventative, but it can also increase the risk of bleeding. 

The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force recently released new preliminary guidance for using aspirin as a heart attack preventative for people without preexisting cardiovascular disease, such as a prior heart attack, stroke, stent replacement, coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), or peripheral artery disease.

Cardiologist Andrew Sumner, MD, with Lehigh Valley Heart and Vascular Institute, explains the recommendations and why the decision whether to take aspirin to prevent a heart attack should balance potential benefits with potential risks.

The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force reclassified some of its recommendations on taking low-dose aspirin as a heart attack preventative for people in certain age groups without known cardiovascular disease based on new research and analysis that weighed risks and benefits.  While taking daily low-dose aspirin can reduce the risk of a heart attack, it can also increase the risk of bleeding.

The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force analysis found that for people age 60 and above, without preexisting cardiovascular disease, the increased risk of bleeding from taking aspirin may outweigh the potential benefit of reducing the risk of a heart attack.   For people age 40-59, with an increased risk for developing cardiovascular disease in the next 10 years, the benefit of taking aspirin may outweigh the risk for bleeding.  However, individual circumstances may also influence whether someone should consider taking aspirin as a heart attack preventative.

For individuals who have preexisting cardiovascular disease, being on aspirin has a clear benefit and should be continued.

These recommendations highlight what we have known for many years, which is you need to use the right drug, for the right person, at the right time.  For individuals who do not have a history of cardiovascular disease, the benefit of taking aspirin to reduce a heart attack needs to be balanced with the increased risk of bleeding.  Many factors, such as age and cholesterol levels, can influence an individual’s own potential risk-benefit of taking low-dose aspirin.  Individual care needs to be individualized to the needs of the patient. Decisions to start or stop taking medicine should be made in consultation with your physician.

I would recommend having a conversation with your physician to make sure you are both comfortable with the risk-benefit of taking, or not taking, a baby aspirin.