Topic Overview

Why take low-dose aspirin?

Good old aspirin, the common pain reliever that has been in our medicine cabinets for almost a century, also has a talent for prevention.

For people who have had a heart attack: Aspirin can help prevent a second heart attack.

For people who have had a stroke: Aspirin can help prevent a second stroke or a transient ischemic attack (TIA), which is often a warning sign of an impending stroke.

For people who have never had a heart attack or stroke: 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.

Who should take low-dose aspirin?

If you have had a heart attack or stroke, your doctor has probably already prescribed low-dose aspirin for you.

If you have never had a heart attack or stroke, talk to your doctor before you start taking aspirin every day.

Doctors use different guidelines to decide who should take daily aspirin. But no matter which guideline your doctor follows, he or she will look at your health and at your risk for a heart attack or stroke. Then you and your doctor will balance the benefits and the risks of taking a daily aspirin to see if a daily aspirin is right for you. For help on the decision to take low-dose aspirin, see:

Aspirin: Should I Take Daily Aspirin to Prevent a Heart Attack or Stroke?

If you have a higher risk for a heart attack or stroke, aspirin will have even more benefit for you. If the benefit of aspirin is more than the risk of side effects, you may want to take daily aspirin.

Daily aspirin isn't advised for people who have a low risk of heart attack or stroke.

Your doctor can help you know your risk of having a heart attack or stroke and the risk of bleeding from aspirin. If you know your blood pressure and cholesterol numbers, you can use this Interactive Tool: Are You at Risk for a Heart Attack? to find out your risk.

Low-dose aspirin may be used:

• After a heart attack, to prevent another one.
• By people who have coronary artery disease.
• By people with stable angina.
• By people with unstable angina.
• After bypass surgery or angioplasty.
• By people who have had a stroke or transient ischemic attack (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.