The relationship between aspirin and heart disease has long been under the magnifying glass of scientific research. The US Preventive Services Task Force’s statement, which is considering making several changes to its guidelines on taking an aspirin daily to prevent heart disease and stroke, is now causing a lot of discussion.
Aspirin and heart disease: between 40 and 59, talk to your doctor before taking the drug
The United States Health Authority published a draft, in which he asked people aged 40 to 59 at high risk of cardiovascular disease, but who have not had any previous episodes, to decide with their doctor whether to start taking aspirin, based on their health conditions. This is the first time this has happened. But there is more. The same draft states that anyone aged 60 and over should not start taking aspirin to prevent heart disease andstroke. This is because new evidence shows that the potential harms nullify the benefits.
New draft only on cardiovascular diseases
Be careful though. This Task Force recommendation is not for people who are already taking aspirin for a previous heart attack or stroke. Anyone who already has a medical history should continue taking the drug, unless otherwise directed by the treating physician. The new draft focuses only on the prevention of cardiovascular disease and calls for more research on taking aspirin to prevent colorectal cancer.
Aspirin and heart disease: major long-term side effects
Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death in Italy as well. In our country, more than 230,000 people die a year from ischemia, heart attacks, heart and cerebrovascular diseases. While taking a low-dose aspirin daily has been shown to reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke in some people, there can be important side effects. There is a risk of potential bleeding in the stomach, intestines and brain. This bleeding risk increases with age.
The central role of the attending physician
“Daily use of aspirin can help prevent heart attacks and strokes in some people, but it can also cause potentially serious damage, such as internal bleeding.” John Wong is a member of the American task force. “It is important that people between the ages of 40 and 59, who have not had a history of heart disease, talk to their doctor to decide together whether to start taking aspirin or not.”
Other studies had already put a stop to the use of aspirin for heart disease
Other research centers previously indicated that the risks of a low daily dose aspirin outweigh the benefits.
Specifically in 2019, the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association published guidelines who state that low daily dose aspirin is no longer recommended as a prevention for older adults who do not have a high risk or existing heart disease.
In 2018, three studies published in the scientific journal New England Journal of Medicine suggest that a daily low-dose aspirin regimen does not provide significant health benefits for healthy older adults. Instead, it could cause them serious harm.