Many people take aspirin daily, believing it protects the heart, even though the drug is primarily known as a pain reliever and fever reducer.
For decades, doctors have recommended it to middle-aged and elderly patients to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes, even if they have not previously suffered from heart disease.
However, recent studies have revealed that taking aspirin daily in people who do not suffer from cardiovascular disease offers limited benefit, while greatly increasing the risk of side effects, including bruising and stomach bleeding, and in rare cases, life-threatening brain hemorrhage.
In recent years, several health experts have indicated that patients should not take a low dose of aspirin daily unless recommended by a doctor. However, some recommendations still permit its use for patients who have already suffered a heart attack or stroke, as the benefits outweigh the potential risks for them.
Despite this, many healthy individuals have not been warned of the potential risks of taking aspirin regularly. Medical reports indicate that some patients have experienced serious side effects, including stomach bleeding and vomiting blood, after years of daily use.
Aspirin was invented in the 1890s and is based on the compound salicin, found in willow bark, which the ancient Egyptians used to treat pain and fever. Its benefits in preventing cardiovascular disease were not discovered until 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 the small vessels of the heart and brain, making it an effective and inexpensive preventive treatment.
However, there are effective alternatives for those with cardiovascular problems, such as warfarin or rivaroxaban. There are also antacid forms of aspirin to reduce stomach upset, but long-term use can increase the risk of stomach infections and bone fractures.
Experts emphasize that doctors must educate healthy patients about the risks of taking aspirin, noting that combining aspirin with antacids for extended periods is not advisable. Ultimately, public health recommendations no longer recommend daily aspirin use for healthy individuals, given the availability of safer and more effective treatments that do not cause serious side effects.
