Most people do NOT need a daily low-dose aspirin

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Most people do NOT need a daily low-dose aspirin

CNN reports that “after years of recommending regular aspirin to prevent heart attack and stroke,” scientists with the U.S. Preventive Service Task Force (USPSTF) “now see little benefit for most healthy people.”

Furthermore, the USPSTF says, “It may contribute to a risk of bleeding in your stomach or brain that goes up as you get older.”

The task force “has finalized its latest recommendations on low-dose aspirin regimens and now says people over 60 should not start taking a daily aspirin for primary prevention of” cardiovascular disease (CVD), “in most cases.”

STAT reports, “Among adults 40 to 59 years old, the task force…concluded ‘with moderate certainty’ that there was a small net benefit to taking low-dose aspirin among those who have a 10% or higher risk of developing heart disease in a 10-year period.”

Healio advises that the new “recommendations were based on a systematic review of 11 randomized controlled trials involving more than 134,400 patients.”

The recommendations were published in JAMA.


© Copyright WLL, INC. 2022. This blog provides healthcare tips and advice that you can trust about a wide variety of general health information only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from your regular physician. If you are concerned about your health, take what you learn from this blog and meet with your personal doctor to discuss your concerns.

2 Comments

  1. Cathy Vanley says:

    Dr. Walt,
    I am at a higher risk of heart attack and stroke because of high cholesterol. I was surprised to hear that the new recommendation is that I do not need to take a low dose aspirin. Even with a small net benefit I’m willing to take it for that to help in any way.

    • Ms. Vanley,

      My blog is intended to provide healthcare tips and advice that you can trust about a wide variety of general health information only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from your regular physician. If you are concerned about whether you should or should not take a daily low-dose aspirin, then I’d recommend you meet with your personal doctor to discuss your concerns.

      Dr. Walt

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