Making Sense of the Advice on Aspirin and Heart Health

New advice on aspirin and heart health

Roni Caryn RabinReporting on health issues

What caused the change?

The panel cited recent studies showing a risk of digestive tract and brain bleeding associated with starting daily aspirin treatment. This risk increases with age and outweighs any preventive benefit.

With people who are better able to manage risk factors like high blood pressure and Drugs like statins, which lower cholesterol, "is now less room for aspirin to make a difference," said Dr. Donald M. Lloyd-Jones, President of the American Heart Association.