Aspirin and heart disease

Alternate Names

Blood thinners - aspirin; Antiplatelet therapy - aspirin

How Aspirin Helps You:

Taking aspirin helps prevent blood clots from forming in your arteries. It also reduces your risk of having a stroke or heart attack. Aspirin may be used to:

Prevent heart disease or coronary (heart) artery disease
Prevent stroke or mini-strokes (transient ischemic attacks, or TIAs), which are early warning signs of stroke
Increase blood flow to your legs
Treat atrial fibrillation, a type of abnormal heartbeat
Treat a heart attack

Aspirin therapy is also recommended after these procedures:

Angioplasty
Stent placement
Heart bypass surgery

You will usually take aspirin as a pill. Your doctor may change your dose from time to time.

Side Effects:

Aspirin can have side effects. They include diarrhea, a skin rash, itching, nausea, or stomach pain. Before you start taking aspirin, tell your doctor if you:

Have bleeding problems or stomach ulcers
Are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding

Taking Aspirin:

Take your aspirin with food and plenty of water to reduce side effects. You may need to stop taking it before you have surgery or dental work. Do NOT stop taking aspirin without talking with your doctor or nurse first.

You may need other drugs for pain, a cold, or the flu that have aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn) in them. Ask your doctor what is safe for you to take for these conditions.

If you miss a dose of your aspirin:

Take it as soon as possible, unless it is time for your next dose.
If it is time for your next dose, take your usual amount.
Do NOT take extra pills to make up for a dose you missed.

Store aspirin and all other medicines in a cool, dry place. Keep them where children cannot get to them.

When to Call the Doctor:

Call your doctor if you have any of these side effects:

Any signs of unusual bleeding, such as blood in the urine or stools, nosebleeds, unusual bruising, heavy bleeding from cuts, black tarry stools, coughing up blood, unusually heavy menstrual bleeding or unexpected vaginal bleeding, or vomit that looks like coffee grounds
Dizziness
Difficulty swallowing
Wheezing or difficulty breathing
Tightness in your chest or chest pain
Swelling in your face or hands
Itching, hives, or tingling in your face or hands
Very bad stomach pain
Skin rash

Reviewed last on: 12/13/2008
Larry A. Weinrauch MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Cardiovascular Disease and Clinical Outcomes Research, Watertown, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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