Should I Take 1 Aspirin Every Day?

Whether you should take aspirin every day depends on your health, age, risk factors, and your doctor’s recommendation. Aspirin, especially in low doses (usually 81 mg), may be recommended for some people to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. However, it is not suitable for everyone and can cause serious side effects in some cases.

Situations Where Aspirin Use May Be Beneficial:

1. History of Cardiovascular Disease:

• For people who have had a previous heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular disease, doctors may often recommend low-dose aspirin. This can help reduce the risk of recurrence.

2. High Cardiovascular Risk:

• In people with risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or smoking, doctors may recommend the use of aspirin. However, this decision is made by taking into account factors such as the person’s bleeding risk.

3. Doctor’s Recommendation:

• In some cases, doctors may recommend using low-dose aspirin for a certain period of time. For example, low-dose aspirin may be prescribed during pregnancy to prevent certain pregnancy complications.

Situations Where Aspirin Use May Be Risky:

1. Risk of Bleeding:

• Aspirin may prevent blood clotting. Therefore, it may increase the risk of serious bleeding in people with stomach ulcers, gastritis, or bleeding disorders.
• The risk of bleeding is also higher in the elderly.

2. Allergic Reactions:

• Serious reactions may occur in people with aspirin allergy or asthma.

3. Pregnancy and Breastfeeding:

• Aspirin use during pregnancy, especially in the last trimester, may increase the risk of bleeding in the baby. However, low-dose aspirin can be used in some cases with the recommendation of a doctor.

4. Interaction with Other Drugs:

• Using aspirin along with blood thinners, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or some antidepressants may be risky.

What Should You Do?

• Consult Your Doctor: Your doctor should decide whether you should take aspirin every day. Your doctor will evaluate your health condition, risk factors and possible side effects and make a specific recommendation for you.
• Don’t Start Yourself: Even though aspirin is an over-the-counter drug, using it every day can have serious consequences. Therefore, do not start using aspirin on your own.
• Regular Checks: If your doctor has recommended you use aspirin, it is important to be monitored for bleeding risk and other side effects with regular checks.

Summary:

Whether you should take aspirin every day depends on your health condition and risk factors. While aspirin may be beneficial for some people, it may cause serious risks in others. Therefore, the best approach would be to make this decision together with your doctor.