For many years, low-dose aspirin has been seen as a simple and affordable way to protect the heart.
Older adults all over the world have been advised to take a small tablet each day in the hope of preventing heart attacks, strokes, and other serious problems linked to blood clots.
Because aspirin has been used for so long, many people believe it is completely safe, especially at low doses. However, new research based on a large and carefully designed trial has raised an unexpected concern.
The study suggests that daily aspirin use in older adults may increase their risk of developing anemia, a condition that can quietly weaken the body over time.
The research came from an analysis of the ASPREE trial, which stands for ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly. This was a major long-term study that followed more than 19,000 people aged 70 and older.
These participants did not have known heart disease, dementia, or physical disability at the start of the study. They were chosen specifically to find out if taking aspirin in later life really helps people stay healthy and live longer.
The participants were randomly divided into two groups. One group took a daily dose of 100 milligrams of aspirin, which is considered a low dose. The other group took a placebo, which looked like aspirin but contained no active medicine. Over time, the researchers carefully checked the health of all participants.
They paid special attention to their blood levels, especially hemoglobin and ferritin. Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen around the body. If hemoglobin is too low, a person may have anemia. Ferritin shows how much iron is stored in the body, and iron is essential for making healthy red blood cells.
When the results were examined, the researchers noticed a clear difference between the two groups. About 23.5 percent of the people who took aspirin developed anemia during the study period.
This was a significantly higher number compared to the group who took the placebo. In addition, the aspirin group showed a steady drop in ferritin levels, meaning that their iron stores were going down.
This finding is important because anemia is not just a small problem. It can make a person feel tired, weak, dizzy, and short of breath. In older adults, anemia can increase the risk of falls, reduce independence, and lower overall quality of life.
Some people may not even realize they have anemia because the symptoms can be mistaken as “normal aging.” Over time, untreated anemia can put extra strain on the heart and other organs.
Most people already know that aspirin can increase the risk of bleeding, especially in the stomach or intestines. This is called gastrointestinal bleeding, and it is a well-known side effect. What makes this study different is that it points to the possibility of hidden, slow blood loss that may not be obvious.
This type of “occult” blood loss can happen in very small amounts over a long period. A person may not see any blood or feel severe pain, but the body is still slowly losing iron. As iron levels drop, the body struggles to make enough healthy red blood cells, and anemia develops.
Because of these findings, the researchers suggest that older adults who take aspirin regularly should have their hemoglobin and iron levels checked from time to time. Simple blood tests can identify anemia early, before serious symptoms appear.
If a problem is found, a doctor may recommend iron supplements, a change in diet, or even reconsidering the use of aspirin based on the person’s individual health risks and benefits.
It is important to stress that people should not stop taking aspirin on their own. For some individuals, especially those with a history of heart attack or stroke, aspirin can still be very important.
The key message from this study is that aspirin should not be seen as harmless just because it is cheap and easy to get. Every medication, even a common one, can have side effects, especially in older bodies that process drugs differently from younger ones.
This research helps both patients and doctors make more informed decisions. Instead of giving aspirin to everyone automatically, healthcare providers may now think more carefully about who truly benefits from it and who may be harmed.
It also encourages a more personalised approach to medicine, where age, overall health, and risk factors are all taken into account.
In reviewing and analysing the findings, this study does not say that aspirin is always dangerous or should never be used in older people. Instead, it shows that the benefits of aspirin are not always guaranteed and that the risks can extend beyond what was traditionally understood.
The higher rate of anemia in the aspirin group suggests that ongoing, unnoticed blood loss could be a real problem for many seniors. This means that careful monitoring, regular check-ups, and honest conversations between patients and doctors are more important than ever.
By understanding both the positive and negative effects of aspirin, people can make safer, smarter choices about their health in later life.
If you care about heart health, please read studies that yogurt may help lower the death risks in heart disease, and coconut sugar could help reduce artery stiffness.
For more information about health, please see recent studies that Vitamin D deficiency can increase heart disease risk, and results showing vitamin B6 linked to lower death risk in heart disease.
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