Heart Disease and Aspirin Therapy

For over 100 years, aspirin has been used as a pain reliever. Since the 1970s, aspirin has also been used to prevent and manage heart disease.

How Does Aspirin Benefit the Heart?

Aspirin benefits the heart in several ways:

• Decreases pain. Aspirin fights pain and inflammation associated with heart disease by blocking the action of an enzyme called cyclooxygenase. When this enzyme is blocked, the body is less able to produce a substance called prostaglandin, which is a chemical that signals an injury and triggers pain.
• Inhibits blood clots. Some of the prostaglandins in the blood trigger a series of events that cause blood platelets to clump together and form blood clots. Thus, when aspirin inhibits prostaglandins, it inhibits the formation of blood clots, as well. Blood clots are harmful because they can clog the arteries leading to the heart, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Aspirin has been shown to reduce the risk of heart attack and reduce the short-term risk of death among people suffering from heart attacks.
• Reduces the risk of death. Research has shown that regular aspirin use is associated with a marked reduction from death due to all causes, particularly among the elderly, people with heart disease, and people who are physically unfit.

Who May Benefit From Aspirin Therapy?

• People with coronary artery disease or atherosclerosis anywhere in the body (such as the brain or legs) may benefit from aspirin therapy.
• People who have had a heart attack*
• People who have undergone bypass surgery to treat heart disease, or have angina ( chest pain)
• People with any risk factor for heart disease or a heart attack
• Men over the age of 50
• People who have had a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or ischemic stroke

* If you are experiencing symptoms of a heart attack, call 9-1-1. If you do not have a history of aspirin allergy, emergency personnel may advise that you chew one aspirin slowly. It's especially effective if taken within 30 minutes of the onset of symptoms.

What Are the Risks and Benefits of Aspirin Therapy?

Benefits of Aspirin Therapy

• Aspirin can significantly reduce heart damage during a heart attack and can prevent the occurrence of future heart problems.
• Aspirin can reduce the risk of stroke.

Risks of Aspirin Therapy

• Aspirin can increase the risk of stomach ulcers and abdominal bleeding.
• During stroke, aspirin can increase the risk of bleeding into the brain.

How Much Aspirin Should I Take?

Always speak to your doctor about the benefits and risks of aspirin therapy before beginning a regular regimen.

Recent research indicates an appropriate dose of aspirin is between 80 and 160 mg per day. This is actually half of the standard 325-milligram aspirin commonly prescribed. Many studies show the lower dose works just as well as the higher dose, while reducing the risk of internal bleeding. A baby aspirin contains 81 mg. There are similarly lower-dose adult aspirin varieties available. But check with your doctor first to find out what dose is right for you.