Aspirin in Heart disease and Stroke.

Heart diseases and stroke are the leading causes of death and disability in older adults in the United States. These are often caused by blood clots forming in the blood vessels that supply oxygen to the heart or the brain. Studies have found that aspirin can help some people prevent a second heart attack or stroke. It helps thin the blood to avoid further blood clots. There is also evidence that aspirin may help prevent a first heart attack or stroke in people who are at high risk for these conditions.Aspirin was associated with an increased risk of bleeding—a known risk of regular aspirin use. Clinically significant bleeding (hemorrhagic stroke, bleeding in the brain, gastrointestinal hemorrhages. A large clinical trial found that a daily low-dose aspirin in healthy older adults didn’t prolong life or help prevent heart disease, physical disability, dementia, or stroke. The results reveal that aspirin doesn’t have the same benefits for healthy older adults as it does for those who’ve had a heart attack or stroke.