Should You Take Aspirin?

By Paula Dranov

Who Needs It
Anyone with high risk of heart disease, as well as those who have had heart attacks or have been diagnosed with heart disease, should talk to a doctor about aspirin therapy.

What We Know
At first, doctors found that aspirin helped prevent heart attacks by thinning the blood and preventing formation of clots that could clog an artery, leading to a heart attack. Now they think aspirin also protects against inflammation in coronary arteries associated with heart disease.

Dosage
Most patients take one or two low-dose (81 mg) tablets daily. (Look for brands with enteric coating to protect against the stomach upset aspirin can cause.)

Side Effects
Aspirin can cause gastrointestinal problems, including bleeding and/or ulcers. (The risk is much less with low-dose formulations.) Because aspirin thins blood, those who take it daily must tell any doctor or dentist what dose they’re taking before even minor surgery or any dental extraction. You shouldn’t take aspirin except under a doctor’s supervision if you’re pregnant, have uncontrolled high blood pressure, a bleeding disorder, asthma, peptic (stomach) ulcers, and liver or kidney disease.

Cost
Minimal.