Should you be taking a daily aspirin? What one cardiologist wants you to know first:
Jeff, a 60-year-old patient, wants to make sure he’s doing everything he can to guard himself against a heart attack. Though he doesn’t have a history of heart disease, he does have risk factors, including high blood pressure and high cholesterol, so he’s wise to stay vigilant.
And to answer that question, we need to know more about the person asking. Do they have heart disease already? If not, what is their risk for heart disease in the future? What is their risk for bleeding? And, interestingly, what is their risk for colon cancer ?For secondary prevention, , the research data is conclusive: Aspirin provides more benefit than risk for the majority of people.
As you can see from these data, the benefits – and risks – of aspirin use in those who have not had heart disease is small.For my patients who do not have heart disease, but are considering aspirin, here are my guidelines to help them decide if aspirin is right for them:If the person is at high risk for heart disease and colon cancer, aspirin is likely of more benefit than harm.
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