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Tuesday, August 27

Many senior citizens still follow outdated aspirin advice.

Many senior citizens still follow outdated aspirin advice.

Though revised guidelines from 2019 warn against that treatment in many circumstances, a national poll indicates that one in four older persons take aspirin routinely in hopes of preventing a heart attack or stroke.

Though aspirin can also cause major bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract and the brain, it helps prevent blood clots that might lead to a heart attack or stroke. For individuals who have already had a heart attack or are at great risk of having one, daily low-dose aspirin is advised with a better awareness of the risk. However, 57% of adults who take aspirin on a regular basis reported having no history of cardiovascular disease. Over one-third seem to be unaware of the risk of bleeding connected with aspirin.

People without heart problems should consult their doctor before starting, maintaining, or discontinuing regular aspirin use. The March 2024 University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging examined a national sample of 2,657 persons aged 50 to 80.

We are following the research. Harvard health

Photo by Michelle Leman
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14 comments

  1. It is interesting to see how common this practice is.

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  2. A aspirina é usada livremente pela maioria das pessoas e não sabia que podia causar os riscos que refere.
    Desejo a continuação de uma boa semana.
    Abraço de amizade.
    Juvenal Nunes

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  3. With my illness (hemathological) I have to take aspirin. I was so difficult to set the right dose... But it's under control now. :)

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  4. Good point. Aspirin can be a good prevention, but it can also lead to gastroenterological bleeding. Imagine if an elderly person takes it who has no heart issues, but suffers from some inner bleeding- it could be all risk without any benefit. Many people do suffer from gastroenterological bleedings, so it is a serious risk.

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  5. Hi Melody!
    Your next important post. I, speak of medicines, eggs will say that a powerful problem is that many people buy and take medicines, but they don't have to! Unfortunately, painkillers can be bought everywhere (in Poland literally at every step!).
    Melody, I salute you!

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  6. It is good that you write about this. Many people probably take Aspirin just to be safe. I have a packet in the medicine cabinet, but I've never taken any of them. I have it in case any of us have heart problems.

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  7. Yes, it is sad that so many people were told to do this by their doctors and now science has changed and said if it’s not a good idea.

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  8. I have tried to start taking an aspirin a day but cannot get in the routine. However, my husband gets low dose aspirin. A bit over 8 yrs ago, he ran out and forgot to tell me, and proceeded to have a mini stroke. The dr. put him on Plavix and he had a brain bleed then...the neurosurgeon said aspirin only and never plavix again. They had a hard time getting the bleeding stopped.

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  9. Have never had an aspirin...this is scary and I hope to GOD that I would never need one.

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  10. There were similar guidelines here in Belgium at the time ... I never take aspirin anyway, it's not the safest of painkiller options. xxx

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  11. It astonishes me that there is so little awareness of that negative side effect of aspirin.

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  12. Hello Melody :)
    My late husband used to take a baby aspirin every day for a heart condition, It was prescribed by a doctor but my husband died of a heart attack anyway. The dosage is important to know, as like most medication there are side effects, so you should not take too many. I have never taken an aspirin for pain. but some people have to take one for certain illnesses but should protect their stomach with an appropriate medication A very good friend of mine died recently of a brain bleed. The first thing the hospital doctor did was stop her taking aspirin, which she took for her heart condition. It's a tricky situation and I'm glad you wrote about it, at least for people to be aware of the dangers involved.
    All the best.
    Sonjia.

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  13. Science is ever changing, it is so important to stay up to date with the latest findings. I always thought a low dose aspirin daily was essential to prevent heart attack. I am glad I know better now!

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  14. I take it daily because I have a heart problem, but you forget that todays aspirin pills are gastroresistent which means they do not harm your digestive system as they did before. Either way, the risk of aspirin hurting you is smaller countless times than the risk of the diseases you can get if not taking it.

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