A new study from Johns Hopkins University has found that many older Americans are still taking a daily low-dose aspirin to prevent heart problems—even though health experts no longer recommend this for most people in this age group.
For years, aspirin was a common way to lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes. It works by thinning the blood and helping to prevent blood clots. Doctors often suggested that people take a small daily dose, often called “baby aspirin,” especially if they had risk factors for heart disease but hadn’t yet had a heart attack or stroke.
However, newer research has shown that for adults over 70, the risks of taking aspirin may outweigh the benefits. While aspirin can still help in some cases, it can also cause serious side effects—especially bleeding in the stomach or brain. These risks become more common as people get older.
In this study, researchers looked at health survey data from over 7,100 Americans aged 60 and older. They focused closely on people aged 70 and up. They found that between 50% and 62% of people in this age group were still taking aspirin every day to prevent heart problems—even if they had never had a heart attack or stroke.
This suggests that millions of older adults may be using aspirin in ways that newer medical advice warns against.
The study also looked at people with diabetes, a condition that increases the risk of heart disease. Surprisingly, people with diabetes were just as likely to take aspirin even if they had no history of heart problems. This shows that older advice is still shaping habits.
Today’s guidelines from major health groups, including the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology, say that most people over 70 should not take aspirin daily to prevent a first heart attack or stroke. They explain that the bleeding risks may be greater than the heart benefits for people who have never had a heart issue before.
Instead of aspirin, doctors now focus more on other treatments that have been shown to help safely, like statins. These medications lower bad cholesterol (LDL) and are proven to reduce heart risks with fewer side effects for most people.
However, aspirin still has a place in heart care. For people who have already had a heart attack, stroke, or have serious heart disease, a daily aspirin may still help prevent another event. In these cases, the benefits can outweigh the risks.
The researchers encourage older adults not to make changes on their own. Instead, they should talk with their doctor. Some people started taking aspirin years ago, following advice that was right at the time. But things change, and medical advice gets updated as we learn more.
This study is a good reminder that treatments that were once common can become outdated. As we age and as science improves, it’s important to check in with a doctor to make sure we’re doing what’s best for our health. For older adults, especially those taking aspirin every day, having that conversation could make a big difference.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about blood thinners that may not prevent stroke in people with heartbeat problems and this diabetes drug may protect heart health in older veterans.
For more about heart health, please read studies about why light-to-moderate drinking is linked to better heart health and reconsidering the long-term use of high blood pressure beta blockers after a heart attack.
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