Should I be taking low-dose aspirin?
Taking low-dose aspirin (or “baby aspirin”) regularly can lower your risk for heart attack, stroke, and colorectal cancer. For most people, aspirin is safe. But it’s not right for everyone.
Ask your doctor about taking aspirin regularly if you are age 50 to 59 and you have any of these risk factors for heart disease:
- Smoking
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes
Talk with your doctor about your health history and ask if low-dose aspirin is right for you. Usually, taking aspirin to prevent disease means taking it every day. Most people will need to take aspirin regularly for at least 5 to 10 years to get all of the benefits. Make sure your doctor says it's okay before you start taking aspirin every day.
Read more about aspirin from the US DHHS