Heart attack: Should I take daily aspirin to prevent a heart attack or stroke?
You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them.
Heart attack: Should I take daily aspirin to prevent a heart attack or stroke?
Get the facts
Your options
- Take daily aspirin.
- Don't take daily aspirin. Instead, try to reduce your risk for
a heart attack or a stroke with a healthy lifestyle.
If you have already had a heart attack or a stroke, this
information does not apply to you. This decision aid is for people who have
not had a heart attack or a stroke.
Key points to remember
- 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.
- Find out your risk for a heart attack with this
Interactive Tool: Are You at Risk for a Heart Attack?
- Some people shouldn't take daily aspirin. These include people
who are allergic to aspirin, who have a stomach
ulcer, or who recently had a stroke caused by bleeding
in the brain.
- Aspirin is usually very safe. But there is an increased chance
of bleeding when you take it every day.
- Even if you take aspirin every day, you still need to follow a
healthy lifestyle to reduce your chance of having a heart attack or a stroke.
Eat healthy foods, get regular exercise, keep your blood pressure and
cholesterol levels under control, and don't smoke.
FAQs
Aspirin can prevent blood clots from forming in your arteries.
People who have
heart disease are at risk for a heart attack or a
stroke. A fatty substance called
plaque builds up in their arteries and narrows them.
Sometimes a piece of plaque breaks open and causes a clot to form. If the clot
blocks blood flow to your artery, it can cause you to have a heart attack or a
stroke.
A blood clot in an artery in your heart can cause a heart
attack. A clot in an artery in your brain or neck can cause a stroke.
For more information on heart disease, see the topic
Coronary Artery Disease.
For more
information on stroke, see the topic
Stroke.
You may have a higher risk of having a heart attack or a stroke
if:
Your age can also increase your chance of having a heart
attack or a stroke. Men older than 45 and women older than 55 have a higher
risk.
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. Show the results to your doctor so you can talk about
whether aspirin might be a good choice for you.
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.
Some people
shouldn't take aspirin. These include people who:
- Have a stomach ulcer.
- Have
recently had a stroke caused by bleeding in the brain.
- Are
allergic to aspirin.
- Have high blood
pressure that isn't under control.
- Have
asthma that is made worse by aspirin.
Gout
can become
worse or hard to treat for some people who take low-dose aspirin.
If you can't take aspirin, your doctor may have you take clopidogrel (Plavix)
to help prevent a heart attack or a stroke.
Daily aspirin isn't
advised for people who have a low risk of heart attack or stroke.
Aspirin reduces 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.
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.
Even if you take aspirin every day, you still need to follow a
healthy lifestyle. Here are some steps you can take to reduce your chance of
having a heart attack or a stroke:
- Eat healthy foods.
- Get regular
exercise.
- Keep your blood pressure and cholesterol levels under
control.
- Don't smoke.
Aspirin is usually very safe. But there is a higher chance of bleeding
when you take it every day. You'll have to weigh this risk against the benefits
of taking aspirin to prevent a heart attack or a stroke.
A stroke
caused by bleeding in the brain is the most serious side effect of aspirin. But
this is very rare. It happens in less than 1 out of 1,000 people who take
aspirin.1 This means that more than 999 out of 1,000
people who take aspirin don't have a stroke caused by bleeding in the
brain.
Aspirin can also cause your stomach or another part of your
digestive tract to bleed. Bleeding that is bad enough to need treatment in a
hospital happens in 1 to 2 out of 1,000 people who take aspirin.1
This means that 998 to 999 out of 1,000 people who take aspirin don't have
serious bleeding.
Even though most people
will take aspirin every day to help prevent a heart attack or a stroke, others
may be advised to take aspirin every other day.
The dose for daily
aspirin ranges from 75 mg to 325 mg. One adult-strength aspirin contains about
325 mg. One low-dose aspirin contains 81 mg. Low-dose aspirin is the most
common dose used to prevent a heart attack or a stroke.
Your doctor may advise you to take daily aspirin if:
- Your chance of having a heart attack or a
stroke is higher than average. You can use this
Interactive Tool: Are You at Risk for a Heart Attack?
to find out your risk.
- You have one or more risk factors for heart
disease or stroke, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol,
smoking, or a family history of early heart disease or stroke.
Compare your options
|
|
|
|
|
What is usually involved?
|
|
|
|
What are the benefits?
|
|
|
|
What are the risks and side effects?
|
|
|
Take daily aspirin
Take daily aspirin
- You take aspirin every day or
every other day, as your doctor recommends.
- You take steps to
reduce your chance of having a heart attack or a stroke by:
- Eating healthy foods.
- Getting regular
exercise.
- Keeping your blood pressure and cholesterol levels under
control.
- Not smoking.
- A daily aspirin can reduce
your chance of having a heart attack or a stroke.
- Possible side
effects include:
- Bleeding in your stomach and brain.
- An allergic
reaction.
Don't take daily aspirin
Don't take daily aspirin
- You take steps to
reduce your chance of having a heart attack or a stroke by:
- Eating healthy foods.
- Getting regular
exercise.
- Keeping your blood pressure and cholesterol levels under
control.
- Not smoking.
- You avoid the side
effects of aspirin.
- You avoid the cost of taking aspirin every day.
- Your
chance of having a heart attack or a stroke may be higher.
Personal stories
Are you interested in what others decided to do? Many people have faced this decision. These personal stories may help you decide.
I've got
high blood pressure. And my father died of a heart attack. So my doctor said it
would be a good idea if I took an aspirin every day. It's no big deal. I take
it at night when I go to bed.
I read
about aspirin and how it can prevent a heart attack or stroke, so I talked with
my doctor about it. She said I don't need to take it. She told me that my risk
of having a heart attack or stroke was really low. My blood pressure and
cholesterol are all good, and I have a pretty healthy lifestyle. But we'll keep
an eye on everything, and if it looks like my chances for a heart attack or
stroke are going up, I can think about taking aspirin then.
I've got
diabetes. So my doctor said I should take an aspirin every day, because people
with diabetes have a higher risk of a heart attack or a stroke. My blood sugar
is under pretty good control. But I want to do everything I can to stay
healthy, so I'm taking an aspirin every morning.
I'm taking
medicine for high cholesterol and high blood pressure. I've had stomach ulcers
off and on over the years. So my doctor says I shouldn't take aspirin. We
agreed that I should keep my weight down and keep taking my cholesterol and
blood pressure medicines.
What matters most to you?
Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements.
Reasons to take daily aspirin
Reasons not to take daily aspirin
I'm willing to take pills every day to help prevent a heart attack or a stroke.
I don't like taking pills.
More important
Equally important
More important
I think my risk of having a heart attack or a stroke is greater than the risks of taking aspirin.
I think the risks of taking aspirin are greater than my risk of having a heart attack or a stroke.
More important
Equally important
More important
I want to do everything I can to lower my risk of having a heart attack or a stroke.
I think I'm doing enough to lower my risk of having a heart attack or a stroke.
More important
Equally important
More important
My other important reasons:
My other important reasons:
More important
Equally important
More important
Where are you leaning now?
Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now.
Taking daily aspirin
NOT taking daily aspirin
Leaning toward
Undecided
Leaning toward
What else do you need to make your decision?
1.
If I take an aspirin every day, I might be able to prevent a heart attack or a stroke.
-
True
That's right. 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.
-
False
Sorry, that's not right. 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.
-
I'm not sure
It may help to go back and read "Key points to remember." 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.
2.
If I have certain health problems, I may not be able to take aspirin.
3.
I don't have to worry about any side effects from taking aspirin every day.
1.
How sure do you feel right now about your decision?
Not sure at all
Somewhat sure
Very sure
2.
Check what you need to do before you make this decision.
3.
Use the following space to list questions, concerns, and next steps.
Your summary
Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision.
Key concepts that you understood
Key concepts that may need review
Credits
| Author |
Marianne Flagg |
| Editor |
Katy E. Magee, MA |
| Associate Editor |
Michele Cronen |
| Primary Medical Reviewer |
E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer |
Robert A. Kloner, MD, PhD - Cardiology |
References
Citations
-
Patrono C, et al. (2008). Antiplatelet drugs: American
College of Chest Physicians evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (8th
edition). Chest, 133(6): 199S–233S.
Heart attack: Should I take daily aspirin to prevent a heart attack or stroke?
You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision.
- Get the facts
- Compare your options
- What matters most to you?
- Where are you leaning now?
- What else do you need to make your decision?
1. Get the facts
Your options
- Take daily aspirin.
- Don't take daily aspirin. Instead, try to reduce your risk for
a heart attack or a stroke with a healthy lifestyle.
If you have already had a heart attack or a stroke, this
information does not apply to you. This decision aid is for people who have
not had a heart attack or a stroke.
Key points to remember
- 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.
- Find out your risk for a heart attack with this
Interactive Tool: Are You at Risk for a Heart Attack?
- Some people shouldn't take daily aspirin. These include people
who are allergic to aspirin, who have a stomach
ulcer, or who recently had a stroke caused by bleeding
in the brain.
- Aspirin is usually very safe. But there is an increased chance
of bleeding when you take it every day.
- Even if you take aspirin every day, you still need to follow a
healthy lifestyle to reduce your chance of having a heart attack or a stroke.
Eat healthy foods, get regular exercise, keep your blood pressure and
cholesterol levels under control, and don't smoke.
FAQs
How can aspirin prevent a heart attack or a stroke?
Aspirin can prevent blood clots from forming in your arteries.
People who have
heart disease are at risk for a heart attack or a
stroke. A fatty substance called
plaque builds up in their arteries and narrows them.
Sometimes a piece of plaque breaks open and causes a clot to form. If the clot
blocks blood flow to your artery, it can cause you to have a heart attack or a
stroke.
A blood clot in an artery in your heart can cause a heart
attack. A clot in an artery in your brain or neck can cause a stroke.
For more information on heart disease, see the topic
Coronary Artery Disease.
For more
information on stroke, see the topic
Stroke.
What are the risk factors for heart attack or stroke?
You may have a higher risk of having a heart attack or a stroke
if:
Your age can also increase your chance of having a heart
attack or a stroke. Men older than 45 and women older than 55 have a higher
risk.
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. Show the results to your doctor so you can talk about
whether aspirin might be a good choice for you.
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.
Who shouldn't take daily aspirin?
Some people
shouldn't take aspirin. These include people who:
- Have a stomach ulcer.
- Have
recently had a stroke caused by bleeding in the brain.
- Are
allergic to aspirin.
- Have high blood
pressure that isn't under control.
- Have
asthma that is made worse by aspirin.
Gout
can become
worse or hard to treat for some people who take low-dose aspirin.
If you can't take aspirin, your doctor may have you take clopidogrel (Plavix)
to help prevent a heart attack or a stroke.
Daily aspirin isn't
advised for people who have a low risk of heart attack or stroke.
What are the benefits of taking daily aspirin?
Aspirin reduces 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.
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.
Even if you take aspirin every day, you still need to follow a
healthy lifestyle. Here are some steps you can take to reduce your chance of
having a heart attack or a stroke:
- Eat healthy foods.
- Get regular
exercise.
- Keep your blood pressure and cholesterol levels under
control.
- Don't smoke.
What are the risks of taking daily aspirin?
Aspirin is usually very safe. But there is a higher chance of bleeding
when you take it every day. You'll have to weigh this risk against the benefits
of taking aspirin to prevent a heart attack or a stroke.
A stroke
caused by bleeding in the brain is the most serious side effect of aspirin. But
this is very rare. It happens in less than 1 out of 1,000 people who take
aspirin.1 This means that more than 999 out of 1,000
people who take aspirin don't have a stroke caused by bleeding in the
brain.
Aspirin can also cause your stomach or another part of your
digestive tract to bleed. Bleeding that is bad enough to need treatment in a
hospital happens in 1 to 2 out of 1,000 people who take aspirin.1
This means that 998 to 999 out of 1,000 people who take aspirin don't have
serious bleeding.
How do you take aspirin?
Even though most people
will take aspirin every day to help prevent a heart attack or a stroke, others
may be advised to take aspirin every other day.
The dose for daily
aspirin ranges from 75 mg to 325 mg. One adult-strength aspirin contains about
325 mg. One low-dose aspirin contains 81 mg. Low-dose aspirin is the most
common dose used to prevent a heart attack or a stroke.
Why might your doctor recommend daily aspirin?
Your doctor may advise you to take daily aspirin if:
- Your chance of having a heart attack or a
stroke is higher than average. You can use this
Interactive Tool: Are You at Risk for a Heart Attack?
to find out your risk.
- You have one or more risk factors for heart
disease or stroke, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol,
smoking, or a family history of early heart disease or stroke.
2. Compare your options
| |
Take daily aspirin
|
Don't take daily aspirin
|
| What is usually involved? |
- You take aspirin every day or
every other day, as your doctor recommends.
- You take steps to
reduce your chance of having a heart attack or a stroke by:
- Eating healthy foods.
- Getting regular
exercise.
- Keeping your blood pressure and cholesterol levels under
control.
- Not smoking.
|
- You take steps to
reduce your chance of having a heart attack or a stroke by:
- Eating healthy foods.
- Getting regular
exercise.
- Keeping your blood pressure and cholesterol levels under
control.
- Not smoking.
|
| What are the benefits? |
- A daily aspirin can reduce
your chance of having a heart attack or a stroke.
|
- You avoid the side
effects of aspirin.
- You avoid the cost of taking aspirin every day.
|
| What are the risks and side effects? |
- Possible side
effects include:
- Bleeding in your stomach and brain.
- An allergic
reaction.
|
- Your
chance of having a heart attack or a stroke may be higher.
|
Personal stories
Are you interested in what others decided to do? Many people have faced this decision. These personal stories may help you decide.
Personal stories about taking daily aspirin to prevent a heart attack or a stroke
These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions.
"I've got high blood pressure. And my father died of a heart attack. So my doctor said it would be a good idea if I took an aspirin every day. It's no big deal. I take it at night when I go to bed."
"I read about aspirin and how it can prevent a heart attack or stroke, so I talked with my doctor about it. She said I don't need to take it. She told me that my risk of having a heart attack or stroke was really low. My blood pressure and cholesterol are all good, and I have a pretty healthy lifestyle. But we'll keep an eye on everything, and if it looks like my chances for a heart attack or stroke are going up, I can think about taking aspirin then."
"I've got diabetes. So my doctor said I should take an aspirin every day, because people with diabetes have a higher risk of a heart attack or a stroke. My blood sugar is under pretty good control. But I want to do everything I can to stay healthy, so I'm taking an aspirin every morning."
"I'm taking medicine for high cholesterol and high blood pressure. I've had stomach ulcers off and on over the years. So my doctor says I shouldn't take aspirin. We agreed that I should keep my weight down and keep taking my cholesterol and blood pressure medicines."
3. What matters most to you?
Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements.
Reasons to take daily aspirin
Reasons not to take daily aspirin
I'm willing to take pills every day to help prevent a heart attack or a stroke.
I don't like taking pills.
More important
Equally important
More important
I think my risk of having a heart attack or a stroke is greater than the risks of taking aspirin.
I think the risks of taking aspirin are greater than my risk of having a heart attack or a stroke.
More important
Equally important
More important
I want to do everything I can to lower my risk of having a heart attack or a stroke.
I think I'm doing enough to lower my risk of having a heart attack or a stroke.
More important
Equally important
More important
My other important reasons:
My other important reasons:
More important
Equally important
More important
4. Where are you leaning now?
Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now.
Taking daily aspirin
NOT taking daily aspirin
Leaning toward
Undecided
Leaning toward
5. What else do you need to make your decision?
Check the facts
1.
If I take an aspirin every day, I might be able to prevent a heart attack or a stroke.
That's right. 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.
2.
If I have certain health problems, I may not be able to take aspirin.
That's right. If you are allergic to aspirin, have a stomach ulcer, or recently had a stroke caused by bleeding in the brain, you shouldn't take aspirin.
3.
I don't have to worry about any side effects from taking aspirin every day.
That's right. Aspirin is usually very safe. But there is an increased chance of bleeding when you take it every day.
Decide what's next
1.
Do you understand the options available to you?
2.
Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you?
3.
Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice?
Certainty
1.
How sure do you feel right now about your decision?
Not sure at all
Somewhat sure
Very sure
2.
Check what you need to do before you make this decision.
3.
Use the following space to list questions, concerns, and next steps.
Credits
| Author |
Marianne Flagg |
| Editor |
Katy E. Magee, MA |
| Associate Editor |
Michele Cronen |
| Primary Medical Reviewer |
E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer |
Robert A. Kloner, MD, PhD - Cardiology |
References
Citations
-
Patrono C, et al. (2008). Antiplatelet drugs: American
College of Chest Physicians evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (8th
edition). Chest, 133(6): 199S–233S.
Note: The "printer friendly" document will not contain all the information available in the online document some Information (e.g. cross-references to other topics, definitions or medical illustrations) is only available in the online version.
Last Updated:
March 26, 2009
Patrono C, et al. (2008). Antiplatelet drugs: American
College of Chest Physicians evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (8th
edition). Chest, 133(6): 199S–233S.