For decades, physicians and organizations like the American Heart Association encouraged older adults to take one low-dose aspirin each day to prevent blood clots and cardiovascular complications such as heart attacks or strokes. That guidance has changed in recent years, thanks to new research that shows that the risks of daily aspirin may outweigh the benefits. But according to the New York Times, as many as 18.5 million older adults may still take a daily aspirin, which increases their risk for dangerous gastrointestinal bleeding and other complications.
In 2022, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issued new guidelines that advised against daily aspirin for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in people 60 and older. In their recommendations, the panel noted that daily aspirin offered only modest risk reduction for people between the ages of 40 and 60 who aren't at increased risk of bleeding. And for people over the age of 60, daily aspirin provided "no net benefit," and increased bleeding risks.
The best way to prevent cardiovascular disease is to control blood pressure and cholesterol, said Dr. Boback Ziaeian, assistant professor of cardiology at UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine. Abstaining from tobacco, getting regular exercise, and controlling blood sugar levels are also important.
Not everyone should chuck the aspirin in the trash, though. For people with existing cardiovascular disease, aspirin (when recommended by a physician) remains an important tool to prevent future heart attacks and strokes.
