Anyone else confused by the news articles about a daily aspirin? They say
The first sentence is for adults 70 and over. The second sentence calls this a reversal of taking a baby aspirin if over age 50, which I thought was only recommended for those aged 50-59
Here is a direct link to the report that is not behind a paywall: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000678
From the table on page 45.
Check with your doctor. I did and mine says not to take a LDA. For my circumstances, the risk of related stomach issues was deemed higher than the benefits. The recommendations have been updated and changed the past few years based on newer research.
Except…very few people, unless they have a history or family history of cardiovascular disease, really know if they are at higher risk. How many people actually get calcium scans? And how many people get their Lp(a) levels checked. Homocysteine levels? Not until there’s a problem, and then it’s often too late. The #1 killer of women is cardiovascular disease, so guess what? We’re all at high risk.
Obviously if you have bleeding issues or stomach problems, it’s probably not worth it.
Definitely talk to your doctor. My mother had a TIA “mini stroke” in her 60s, and more than one doctor has told her to stay on her LDA. However, as a 50-something active adult, I was told not to take it solely as a preventative measure even though her TIA increases my risk. My uncle (my mother’s brother) was told to stop take LDA as he developed an ulcer even though he has several risk factors.
In other words, we lay folk don’t need to be making these decisions without medical input.
Not to further confuse anyone, but I thought the benefit to LDA is after you’ve had a heart attack or in the throes of one.
Known heart attack automatically puts someone in the highest risk category for another one.