Many people take aspirin daily believing it protects the heart, although the drug is primarily known as a pain reliever and fever reducer.
For decades, doctors recommended it to middle-aged and older patients to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes, even if they had no prior heart conditions.
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However, recent studies have shown that daily aspirin use in people without cardiovascular disease offers limited benefit while significantly increasing the risk of side effects, including bruising, stomach bleeding, and in rare cases, life-threatening brain hemorrhage.
In recent years, health experts have advised that patients should not take a low-dose aspirin daily unless recommended by a physician. Some guidelines still allow its use in patients who have previously had a heart attack or stroke, where the benefits outweigh potential risks.
Despite this, many healthy individuals are not warned about the potential dangers of regular aspirin use. Medical reports have documented serious side effects in some patients, including stomach bleeding and vomiting blood after years of daily use.
Aspirin was invented in the 1890s, based on the compound salicin found in willow bark, which ancient Egyptians used to treat pain and fever. Its cardiovascular protective benefits were discovered only in the 1960s.
Studies have shown that a low dose of aspirin (75 mg) acts as an antiplatelet agent, reducing the risk of life-threatening blood clots, especially in small vessels in the heart and brain, making it an effective and low-cost preventive treatment.
However, there are effective alternatives for those with cardiovascular issues, such as warfarin or rivaroxaban. There are also “acid-resistant” forms of aspirin to reduce stomach damage, but long-term use can increase the risk of gastric inflammation and bone fractures.
Experts emphasize that doctors should educate healthy patients about the risks of aspirin use and note that combining aspirin with long-term acid-reducing medications is not recommended. Public health recommendations no longer advise daily aspirin use for healthy individuals due to the availability of safer, more effective treatments without serious side effects. (Daily Mail)
