Women: Should You Be Taking Aspirin for Your Heart?

New guidelines raise questions

Studies have shown that a daily dose of aspirin helps prevent heart attacks and strokes in men, but what about women? Researchers are finally asking the question, and prompted by the latest findings, the American Heart Association (AHA) now urges some women to consider a daily aspirin. Is this the right move for you? It depends.

“As with any treatment, you have to balance the benefits and risks,” says cardiologist Bruce Feldman, D.O., of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. While aspirin can help protect the heart, it also can cause gastrointestinal problems and internal bleeding.

The first step in making your decision is to consult your doctor. “It’s very important, especially after age 50, to have your blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose tested and talk about other heart disease risk factors,” says Feldman’s colleague, internist Daniel Valancius, M.D. “Using various scoring tools, your doctor can develop an estimate of your chance for having a heart attack or stroke in the next 10 years.”

Aspirin is worth considering if…

• You already have heart disease or a past heart attack. (Aspirin’s value in preventing recurrence is clear.)
• You’re over age 65. Major research shows that aspirin helps prevent heart disease in this age group. (If you’re a healthy woman under 65, routine aspirin for heart problems isn’t recommended.)
• You have significant heart disease risk factors. “Diabetes alone is a significant risk factor,” Feldman says. “Other risk factors also can add up to be ‘significant’—for example, high cholesterol and high blood pressure coupled with a family history of premature heart disease.”

Aspirin is probably not worth it if…

• You’ve had a recent bleeding ulcer. “Once it’s healed, if you’d benefit from daily aspirin your doctor can reduce your risk for future gastrointestinal problems by having you also take a proton pump inhibitor (like Prilosec),” Valancius says.

When shopping for aspirin, buying generic rather than brand names will save you money. A “baby” dose (81 milligrams, the smaller pill in photo) is enough, unless you’re at high risk or already have heart disease; in that case, take 325 milligrams (larger pill in photo).

“And remember that aspirin is not a cure-all,” Valancius says. “Leading a healthy lifestyle is more important. Quit smoking, eat a lowfat diet and exercise regularly, and you’ll be well on the way to preventing that heart attack.”

Want to Know More about how to assess your heart disease risk? Call 610-402-CARE.

Published from Healthy You Magazine, September-October 2007

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