Examples
|
| Bayer, Bufferin, Ecotrin | Aspirin |
How It Works
Aspirin can prevent blood clots from forming in your arteries. This can prevent a heart attack or stroke.
Brand-name aspirin is no more effective than
generic or store brands.
Why It Is Used
Aspirin may reduce your chance of having a
heart attack or a
stroke if you have certain risk factors, such as
diabetes,
high blood pressure,
high cholesterol, or smoking. If you have a higher risk for a heart attack or stroke, aspirin will have even more benefit for you.
You can take aspirin to help you during a
. After you call
911 or other emergency services, chew 1
adult-strength (325 mg) or 2 to 4 low-dose (81 mg) aspirin if you are not
allergic to aspirin and if there is no other reason that you can't take
aspirin. Aspirin slows blood clotting, so a blood clot that is causing the
heart attack stays smaller.
You
may also take low-dose aspirin (81 mg) every day to help lower the risk of a
heart attack or
. Low-dose aspirin may be used:
- After a heart attack, to prevent another one.
- By
people who have coronary artery disease.
- By people with
.
- By people with
.
- After
or
.
- By people who have had a
stroke or
(TIA).
- After
surgery to prevent a stroke (carotid endarterectomy).
- By healthy men over age 45 when the benefits of aspirin to
prevent a heart attack are greater than the risk of stomach bleeding from
taking daily aspirin.
- By
healthy women over age 55 when the benefits of aspirin to prevent a stroke are
greater than the risk of stomach bleeding from taking daily aspirin.
How Well It Works
Aspirin can help lower your chance of having a
heart attack. It also reduces the chance of a
stroke or a "mini-stroke." A mini-stroke is also
called a
TIA. If you have a higher risk for a heart attack or stroke, aspirin will have even more benefit for you.
Daily aspirin can benefit men and
women who have never had a heart attack or stroke. But the benefits seem to
differ by gender. For men, aspirin seems to work better to prevent a heart
attack. And for women, aspirin seems to work better to prevent a stroke.