Many older Americans are still taking a low-dose aspirin every day, hoping it will protect them from heart attacks or strokes.
But new health advice says this might not be the best idea for most seniors, and a study from Johns Hopkins University shows many people haven’t heard the news.
For years, aspirin was widely used to prevent heart problems. This small, everyday pill helps thin the blood, making it less likely to form clots that could block arteries and cause a heart attack or stroke.
Doctors used to suggest that people at higher risk of heart disease — even if they had never had a heart problem before — take a low dose daily. This kind of aspirin is often called “baby aspirin.”
But in recent years, experts have changed their minds. New research shows that while aspirin can help prevent heart problems, it also brings a risk of dangerous bleeding — especially in the stomach or brain.
This risk is higher in people over 70. As a result, medical groups like the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology now say that people over 70 who have never had a heart attack or stroke should not take aspirin every day to prevent one.
Still, many seniors continue to do just that. In the Johns Hopkins study, researchers looked at health data from over 7,100 Americans aged 60 and older. They focused on those 70 and above.
They found that between half and nearly two-thirds of these older adults were still taking aspirin every day — even if they had no history of heart disease. That means millions of people might be using aspirin in a way that does more harm than good.
The researchers also found that people with diabetes were just as likely to take aspirin as those without heart problems, showing that old habits and advice may still be affecting people’s choices.
Today, doctors prefer other ways to prevent heart problems. One of the most common treatments is statins — medicines that lower bad cholesterol in the blood. Statins are often better tolerated and don’t carry the same bleeding risks as aspirin.
However, aspirin still has an important role. If someone has already had a heart attack, a stroke, or has blocked heart arteries, daily aspirin can help prevent another serious heart problem. But for others — especially those over 70 with no history of heart disease — the risks may outweigh the benefits.
Doctors say people should not stop or start aspirin on their own. It’s important to talk to a healthcare provider, because every person’s situation is different. Many people started taking aspirin years ago based on older guidelines, and they may not know that those guidelines have changed.
This study is a reminder that medical advice can evolve. What was once helpful may no longer be the safest option. For seniors concerned about heart health, having a conversation with a doctor can help them make the best choice.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about how eating eggs can help reduce heart disease risk, and Vitamin K2 could help reduce heart disease risk.
For more information about heart health, please see recent studies about how to remove plaques that cause heart attacks, and results showing a new way to prevent heart attacks, strokes.
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