Can aspirin help you survive a heart attack or ward one off if taken preventatively? Doctors have been aware of the cardiovascular benefits of aspirin for years, but that doesn’t mean we should all start taking a daily dose.
“Multiple research studies have confirmed that taking aspirin reduces the number of heart attacks and strokes in men and women, who do not have a history of heart disease,” says Fredric L. Ginsberg, M.D., clinical cardiologist at the Cooper Heart Institute.
But a daily aspirin regimen isn’t healthy for everyone. Although aspirin can fight blood clots that can cause heart attacks and strokes, high doses can increase the risk of bleeding. This can lead to gastrointestinal bleeding and strokes caused by bleeding, known as hemorrhagic strokes.
