Ask a Texas Heart Institute Doctor
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Question:
Does a healthy 68 year old woman need a baby aspirin a day? Hi, I am a 68 yr-old female caucasian. I am in excellent health and exercise moderately for 30-45 minutes 4-5x per week. My blood pressure is 120/73; pulse 63; cholesterol < 200. Do I need to take a baby aspirin daily? I really do not want to do that.
I heard about this service on 88.7 this morning. Thank you.
submitted by Marjorie, on 2/11/09
Answer:
by Texas Heart Institute cardiologist, Andres Mesa, MD 
Daily aspirin therapy helps lower the risk of heart attack and stroke, but isn't appropriate for everyone. You should consider daily aspirin therapy only if you've had a heart attack or stroke, or you're at high risk of either. Early studies on daily aspirin therapy were done mostly in men. More recent studies have focused on the effects of aspirin in women, finding that its effects differ between the sexes, and for women, between age groups.
For women under age 65, a daily aspirin can help prevent first stroke but not first heart attack; but, for women age 65 and older can help prevent first stroke and prevent first heart attack. The risk of bleeding with daily aspirin therapy, however, is about the same in both sexes. More study is needed to determine how or if this might change recommendations for daily aspirin therapy for heart attack and stroke prevention.
Whether you need daily aspirin therapy depends on your risk of heart disease and stroke. Risk factors for a heart attack or stroke include:
- Smoking tobacco
- High blood pressure - a systolic pressure of 140 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) or higher or a diastolic pressure of 90 mm Hg or higher
- Total cholesterol level of 240 mg/dL (6.22 mmol/L) or higher
- Low-density lipoprotein ("bad") cholesterol level of 130 mg/dL (3.68 mmol/L) or higher
- Lack of exercise
- Diabetes
- Stress
- Having more than two alcoholic drinks a day for men, one drink a day for women
- Family history of a stroke or heart attack
If you have strong risk factors, but have not had a heart attack or stroke, you may benefit from taking an aspirin every day. First, you'll want to discuss with your doctor whether you have any conditions that make taking aspirin dangerous for you. It's also important to tell your doctor what other medications or supplements you might be taking, even if it's just ibuprofen. Taking aspirin and ibuprofen together reduces the beneficial effects of the aspirin. Taking aspirin with other anticoagulants, such as warfarin (Coumadin) could greatly increase your chance of bleeding.
See also on this site:
View complete list of "Ask a Heart Doctor" Questions and Answers
| Heart Information Center services are made possible in part by a generous gift from the Hamill Foundation. |
Updated February 2009
