Recent research indicates aspirin can lower the risk of a heart attack but can also cause excessive bleeding.

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Experts say a daily aspirin routine can help the cardiovascular health of people who’ve never had a heart attack. Getty Images

Many of us take a daily aspirin to prevent heart attack or stroke, but for some people, the risks may outweigh the benefits.

New research finds that while aspirin does lower the risk of heart attack or stroke, it may also increase the risk of potentially dangerous bleeding.

Researchers from Imperial College and King’s College in the United Kingdom analyzed 13 clinical trials involving more than 164,000 participants without cardiovascular disease between the ages of 53 and 74.

The researchers wanted to find out if aspirin prevented cardiovascular disease in this population and what the risk of bleeding was that required hospitalization.

The findings, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), suggest that although regular aspirin use will prevent cardiovascular disease in people who have never had a heart attack, it won’t reduce the odds of dying if you do have one and comes with a significant risk of bleeding.

“More people have bleeding complications from aspirin than those who are protected from a heart attack or stroke,” Dr. Salman A. Arain, associate professor of cardiovascular medicine at the McGovern Medical School at UT Health in Houston, told Healthline.

“Aspirin is an antiplatelet agent. Platelets are cell fragments that float around in the blood and stick together to form clots when activated. Activated platelets are important in forming blood clots after an injury, like a cut,” Arain explained.

“But aspirin can increase the risk of prolonged bleeding after an injury. It also makes the risk of bleeding higher in patients who may be using blood thinners for other reasons,” he said.

Aspirin also blocks cyclooxygenase. This enzyme reduces the body’s ability to produce chemicals that can cause inflammation.

Fatty deposits called plaque are more likely to cause heart attack or stroke if they become inflamed.

A recent study published in The Lancet suggests that how much you weigh may alter aspirin’s efficacy.

The researchers analyzed data from nine different clinical trials to find that the recommended aspirin dose of 75 to 100 milligrams (mg) per day only protected against cardiovascular disease in individuals weighing less than 154 pounds.

It took a 300 mg or higher dose to effectively protect individuals weighing 154 or more pounds.

Body weight affects how our bodies use many medications.

In general, the more someone weighs, the higher a dose may be needed for a drug to work properly.

The Aspirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) trial examined the preventive effects of 100 mg of aspirin daily versus a placebo in about 19,000 Australian and U.S. participants 70 years old and older who had no cardiovascular disease, dementia, or disability.

Researchers found no evidence that aspirin provided any cardiovascular benefit, although participants taking aspirin still showed a higher risk for major bleeding.

The ASPREE study also found the rate of death from any cause may even be higher in aspirin users in this age group.

So, should you take aspirin to reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke?

It’s not a simple question to answer.

While doctors accept that aspirin will protect people who already have a diagnosis of cardiovascular disease, they’re less clear on whether it helps those who haven’t received a diagnosis.

“If you already had a heart attack or stroke, then yes. Although the opposite is not a hard no,” Dr. Robert Segal, cardiologist and co-founder of LabFinder, told Healthline. “Depending on your lifestyle or health history, it’s best discussed with your healthcare provider.”

Since the introduction of statin drugs to reduce cholesterol levels, aspirin may no longer be the best option to reduce heart health risks for people with no history of cardiovascular problems.

“Statins are effective in preventing both heart attack and stroke. They work by lowering the risk of forming plaques within the arteries,” Arain said.

“They’re more effective at preventing a second or third episode,” he continued, “so all patients who have had a heart attack or embolic stroke (stroke related to a blood clot) should take a statin as long as they can tolerate it.”

However, Segal cautions that “statins shouldn’t be taken when you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or you have an active liver disease. There are also medications that you cannot take together with statins.”

“This study reinforces the idea that aspirin should be used cautiously in patients with risk factors for coronary artery disease and stroke, and that lifestyle modification and risk factor treatment may be the safer method to prevent an event,” Arain said.

According to Arain, specific ways to reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke include the following:

  • Get regular exercise and other physical activity.
  • Eat a healthy diet low in saturated fat, refined sugars, and simple carbohydrates.
  • Don’t smoke, and avoid secondhand smoke.
  • Maintain a healthy waistline.
  • Treat and manage other risk factors, like high blood pressure or diabetes.

Previous studies have consistently shown that aspirin can help prevent heart attack and stroke by reducing inflammation and the risk of blood clots.

But while aspirin has its pros, new research suggests it does carry an increased risk of internal bleeding that requires hospitalization.

In at least one study, seniors 70 years old and older showed no cardiovascular benefit from using aspirin but still had an increased risk for bleeding.

Experts say it’s important to take care of your health with a healthy lifestyle. By managing your weight, eating a balanced diet, and not smoking, you can help prevent heart disease and stroke.