Many older adults are taking aspirin to prevent a heart attack — despite the risks

Millions of older Americans are taking a daily dose of aspirin to lower their risk of having a heart attack or stroke for the first time — even though they shouldn’t, a new study finds .

Nearly a third of adults 60 and older who don’t have cardiovascular disease took aspirin in 2021, according to findings published Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Past research suggests that daily aspirin usage may increase the risk of internal bleeding .

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Cardiovascular disease refers to several conditions , including heart attack, heart failure, heart arrhythmias, vascular disease, congenital heart defects, stroke and high blood pressure. Heart disease causes the most deaths in the US, while stroke is the fifth leading cause of death.

Aspirin has been hailed for its ability to keep platelets from sticking together and forming a blood clot that can spur a heart attack or stroke.

However, recent research has found that the benefit was offset by the risk of bleeding in the brain or stomach — and guidelines were modified to discourage daily aspirin usage among people over 60 who are considered to be at low or moderate risk for heart disease.

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Aspirin is still recommended for people who have had a stroke, heart attack or other heart problems.

The authors of the study published Monday found that aspirin usage declined from 2018 to 2019 after the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association changed their recommendations.

Still, the researchers determined that 18.5 million Americans 60 and older took aspirin in 2021.

The study authors stress the “urgent need” for doctors to ask their older patients about aspirin usage and explain the benefits and risks to them.

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