In new guidelines for heart health, researchers suggest healthy people do not take aspirin every day unless their doctor prescribes it.
The new guidelines are reported by the American Heart Association.
Many healthy people believe that a daily dose of aspirin may help them prevent a heart attack or a stroke.
However, recent studies have challenged this view. They have found that taking a daily low-dose aspirin may increase the risk of internal bleeding and other side effects.
For example, one study found that aspirin had no health benefit but could be harmful to healthy older people older than 70 who have a high (internal) bleeding risk.
The team suggests that the decision to use daily aspirin should be made by doctors.
Doctors may recommend aspirin for people who have a strong family history of heart disease, or people who have plaque buildup inside their arteries.
But for most people considered to be at low or moderate risk of heart disease, it is better to prevent heart disease with a healthy diet, regular exercise, and good nights’ sleep.
It is also helpful to control chronic health conditions like high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and diabetes.
It is important to know that the new recommendation should not be used by people who already have had a stroke or heart attack.
People have undergone bypass surgery or a procedure to insert a stent in their coronary arteries also don’t need to avoid daily aspirin.
The researchers suggest that for people already have heart disease, it may be beneficial to take aspirin every day to prevent a new heart disease event.
In fact, aspirin still may be considered for adults ages 40-70 who have a high risk of heart disease and low risk for bleeding, if advised by their doctors.
The lead author of the study is Dr. Erin Michos, associate director of preventive cardiology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Maryland.
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