How Much Do You Know About Aspirin?

In 2022, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force recommended against a daily aspirin to prevent stroke and heart attack in people over 60 because of the risk of internal bleeding. If you’ve been an aspirin taker for a while with no problems, you should be OK, but talk to your doctor about whether you should continue it.

Science suggests ​​taking an aspirin regularly can lower your risk of developing or dying from some types of cancer, such as liver, ovarian, colon, and other GI cancers. But your doctor is your guide: You shouldn’t start taking it without talking to a professional first.

Aspirin works by blocking your body’s production of compounds called prostaglandins. ACE inhibitors (blood pressure medications) do the opposite: They crank up prostaglandin. Taking both medications may cancel out their effects and may also cause kidney problems for some people.

Aspirin is a no-no for kids under 19 who have a fever or a viral infection like the flu. It's linked to Reye syndrome, a serious condition with symptoms like vomiting, confusion, and being overstimulated. It causes swelling in the brain and liver and may lead to a coma. Stick with acetaminophen or ibuprofen for your child’s symptom relief.

Surveys show about half of all U.S. adults age 45 to 75 take low-dose aspirin once a day. That percentage may soon plummet because of the new guidelines advising adults over 60 against a preventative daily dose.

Aspirin comes in different forms: tablets, powder, gum -- and as a suppository.

It's probably easiest to take it by mouth, but it affects your body the same, no matter how it gets in there. Follow the directions on the package.

High doses can cause tinnitus. The ringing should go away once you stop taking the medicine. The most common side effect is a tummy ache. Eat something before you take a dose to help avoid that.

For moms-to-be, acetaminophen is a better choice for pain relief. Since aspirin can cause extra bleeding during labor, you shouldn't take it during the last 6-8 weeks you’re pregnant unless your doctor tells you to. If you're likely to have preeclampsia, your doctor will probably recommend a low dose of aspirin to prevent high blood pressure and protein in your urine.

All aspirins work equally well for pain relief, no matter the label. Same goes for different versions of aspirin such as enteric-coated and buffered. These kinds of aspirin may help some people avoid sour stomach, but all types treat pain in exactly the same way.