Aspirin how many a day

It's a legitimate technique called meta-analysis. In this relatively healthy group of 95, volunteers, the reduction in heart attacks and strokes in people taking aspirin was almost counterbalanced by major bleeding in the gastrointestinal system and the brain. The researchers concluded that for individuals without previously diagnosed cardiovascular disease, "aspirin is of uncertain net value.

Another meta-analysis showed only a modest overall benefit, if any, for aspirin among people with diabetes but no cardiovascular disease, and it had little impact on heart attack or stroke. When the researchers analyzed the data by sex, aspirin reduced the risk of heart attack in men but not women. After reviewing and analyzing information from relevant primary prevention studies, the journal's editors concluded that the benefits and harms "may be more finely balanced than previously thought," and aspirin should not be recommended as an across-the-board option to help healthy people prevent heart attack and stroke.

Don't take aspirin just because you've heard it can help prevent a heart attack or stroke. It can , but it can also do some damage. There's no exact tipping point at which it makes sense to start taking an aspirin a day. If you are healthy, haven't been diagnosed with heart disease or other cardiovascular disease, and don't have risk factors for them, aspirin probably isn't for you. You'll reap little benefit while exposing yourself to side effects you'd rather stay away from.

The less healthy your heart and arteries, the more likely the advantages of taking aspirin will outweigh any risks. It isn't the easiest decision to make. If you are in the gray zone, talking with your doctor could make it more black and white. As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content.

Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. Thanks for visiting. You and your doctor can decide if aspirin is a good choice for you. For people who have had a heart attack: Aspirin can help prevent a second heart attack. Your doctor has probably already prescribed aspirin for you.

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 a stroke. For people who have never had a heart attack or stroke: Talk to your doctor before you start taking aspirin every day.

Aspirin lowers the risk of heart attack. But aspirin can also cause serious bleeding. And it is not clear that aspirin can help prevent a stroke if you have not already had a heart attack or stroke in the past. You and your doctor can decide if aspirin is a good choice for you based on your risk of a heart attack and your risk of serious bleeding. People who have certain health problems shouldn't take aspirin. These include people who:. If you think you are having a stroke, do not take aspirin because not all strokes are caused by clots.

Aspirin could make some strokes worse. Gout can become worse or hard to treat for some people who take aspirin. If you take some other blood thinner , talk with your doctor before taking aspirin, because taking both medicines can cause bleeding problems. Drinking 3 or more alcoholic drinks every day while taking daily aspirin increases your risk for liver damage and stomach bleeding.

If your doctor recommends aspirin, limit or stop alcohol usage. Before having a surgery or procedure that may cause bleeding, tell your doctor or dentist that you take aspirin. Aspirin may cause you to bleed more than usual. He or she will tell you if you should stop taking aspirin before your surgery or procedure.

Make sure that you understand exactly what your doctor wants you to do. Do not suddenly stop taking aspirin without talking to your doctor first. Talking to your cardiologist first is especially important if you have had a stent placed in a coronary artery. Tell your doctor if you notice that you bruise easily or have other signs of bleeding.

These include bloody or black stools or prolonged bleeding from cuts or scrapes. Aspirin should not be taken with many prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and natural health products. So before you start aspirin therapy, talk to your doctor about all the drugs and other remedies you take. Although non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs , such as ibuprofen and naproxen, relieve pain and inflammation much like aspirin does, they do not affect blood clotting in the same way that aspirin does.

NSAIDs may increase your risk for a heart attack or stroke. Ask your doctor what pain reliever you should take. You may be able to use another type of pain reliever, such as acetaminophen, to treat your pain. If you take these pills at the same time, aspirin might not work as well to prevent a heart attack or stroke.

Do not take the NSAID pill during either the 8 hours before or the 30 minutes after you take aspirin. Here's an example: Take your aspirin. Wait 30 minutes. Your doctor will recommend a dose of aspirin and how often to take it. A typical schedule is to take aspirin every day. But your doctor might recommend that you take aspirin every other day.

Be sure you know what dose of aspirin to take and how often to take it. Low-dose aspirin 81 mg is the most common dose used to prevent a heart attack or a stroke. The researchers suggested that primary care doctors should talk to patients about aspirin use, and that more people should ask their doctors about it. Here's why women are at an increased risk of heart disease versus men, and what we can do about it.

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Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Share on Pinterest American Heart Association officials say some Bayer displays at Walmart stores earlier this year may have given people the false impression that daily aspirin use is beneficial to most people.