Robert Wakeling Nov
12

Aspirin Therapy for Heart Disease Prevention: Who Should Take It in 2025?

For decades, taking a daily aspirin was as common as brushing your teeth if you wanted to avoid a heart attack. But those days are over. If you’re 60 or older and have never had a heart attack or stroke, aspirin therapy is no longer recommended for preventing heart disease - and in many cases, it could be doing more harm than good.

Why the Rules Changed

Aspirin works by thinning the blood. It stops platelets from clumping together and forming clots that can block arteries and cause heart attacks or strokes. For people who’ve already had a cardiovascular event, that’s life-saving. But for healthy people trying to prevent their first heart problem? The math has flipped.

Large studies published since 2018 - like ASPREE, ASCEND, and ARRIVE - showed that while aspirin slightly lowers the risk of nonfatal heart attacks and strokes, it increases the chance of dangerous bleeding by about 43%. That includes bleeding in the stomach, brain, and intestines. For older adults, especially those over 60, the risk of bleeding often outweighs the tiny benefit.

Back in the 1980s and 90s, when people smoked more, ate worse, and didn’t take statins, aspirin made more sense. Today, with better control of blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes, the absolute benefit of aspirin has shrunk. One expert put it simply: “We now treat heart disease risk with statins and lifestyle changes. Aspirin doesn’t add enough to justify the bleeding risk.”

Who Might Still Benefit?

There’s still a small group where aspirin might be worth considering - but only after a detailed conversation with your doctor.

Adults aged 40-59 with a 10% or higher 10-year risk of heart disease or stroke might be candidates. Your risk is calculated using a tool called the ACC/AHA Pooled Cohort Equation. It looks at:

Your age, sex, and race
Your total and HDL cholesterol levels
Your blood pressure (whether treated or not)
Whether you have diabetes
Whether you smoke

If your calculated risk is 10% or more - and you don’t have a high bleeding risk - your doctor might suggest trying low-dose aspirin (75-100 mg daily). But it’s not automatic. It’s a personal choice.

People with type 2 diabetes are a special case. The American Diabetes Association says aspirin can be considered for those over 40 with additional risk factors - like high blood pressure, smoking, or a family history of heart disease. But again, only if bleeding risk is low.

Those with very high coronary artery calcium scores (a CT scan that shows plaque buildup in heart arteries) may also benefit. Some experts believe this group has such high risk that aspirin’s small benefit still tips the scale. But this isn’t standard advice yet - it’s still being studied.

Who Should Avoid Aspirin Completely?

If any of these apply to you, don’t start aspirin - and if you’re already taking it, talk to your doctor about stopping:

Age 60 or older - The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force says against starting aspirin for primary prevention in this group. The bleeding risk rises sharply after 60.
History of stomach ulcers or GI bleeding - Aspirin irritates the stomach lining. Even low doses can cause serious bleeding.
Taking blood thinners like warfarin, apixaban, or rivaroxaban - Combining these with aspirin multiplies bleeding risk.
Heavy alcohol use - More than 3 drinks a day increases stomach bleeding risk.
Severe kidney or liver disease - Your body can’t clear aspirin properly.
Known aspirin allergy - Can cause breathing problems or severe skin reactions.

Doctors use a tool called HAS-BLED to assess bleeding risk. A score of 3 or higher means high risk - and aspirin is usually not recommended.

Adults using a glowing risk calculator with healthy lifestyle pieces balancing against aspirin

What About Family History?

“I’ve been taking aspirin because my dad had a heart attack at 58,” is one of the most common reasons people give for continuing aspirin. But family history alone isn’t enough to justify it.

Having a parent with early heart disease raises your risk - but it doesn’t automatically mean you need aspirin. What matters more is your own risk factors: Do you smoke? Are your cholesterol and blood pressure under control? Do you have diabetes? If your personal risk is low, aspirin won’t help much - and could hurt you.

One 2019 study found that nearly 7 million Americans over 60 were still taking aspirin daily for prevention, even though they had no heart disease and no doctor’s recommendation. That’s not just outdated - it’s dangerous.

What’s the Right Dose?

If your doctor says aspirin is right for you, the dose is low - 75 to 100 mg per day. That’s one “baby aspirin.”

Don’t take 325 mg unless specifically told to. Higher doses don’t give more protection - they just increase bleeding risk. And never take it on an empty stomach. Always take it with food or water to reduce stomach irritation.

What About Other Medications?

Statins are now the cornerstone of heart disease prevention. They lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol by 30-50% - far more than aspirin can. Blood pressure meds, diabetes control, exercise, and a healthy diet do more to prevent heart attacks than aspirin ever did.

Aspirin is not a substitute for these. It’s a potential add-on - and only for a very specific group.

Senior walking in park tossing aspirin into recycling bin while healthy habits grow around them

What If You’re Already Taking It?

If you’re over 60 and taking aspirin daily for prevention - and you’ve never had a heart attack, stroke, stent, or bypass - talk to your doctor before stopping.

Stopping aspirin suddenly isn’t dangerous for most people, but it’s still best to do it under medical guidance. Your doctor might suggest stopping if your bleeding risk is high or your heart risk is low.

Some people feel anxious about stopping. They worry they’ll “lose their protection.” But remember: the benefit was tiny to begin with. The risk of bleeding? Real and growing.

Alternatives to Aspirin

There’s no other pill that replaces aspirin for primary prevention. But there are better options:

Statins - For almost everyone with elevated cholesterol or diabetes, this is the #1 preventive tool.
Blood pressure control - Keeping it under 120/80 reduces heart attack risk more than aspirin ever did.
Exercise - Just 150 minutes a week of brisk walking cuts heart disease risk by 30%.
Healthy diet - Focus on vegetables, whole grains, nuts, fish, and olive oil. Avoid processed meats and sugary drinks.
Quitting smoking - This one change reduces heart attack risk by 50% within a year.

These aren’t just alternatives - they’re superior. They prevent heart disease at the source, not just by thinning the blood.

Bottom Line

Aspirin for heart disease prevention isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution anymore. For most people, especially those over 60, it’s no longer recommended. The bleeding risk is too high, and the benefit too small.

For a small group - adults 40-59 with high heart risk and low bleeding risk - it might still be worth considering. But only after a full risk assessment and a thoughtful conversation with your doctor.

Don’t take aspirin just because you always have. Don’t stop it just because you read something online. Get your numbers checked. Know your risk. Make the decision together with your healthcare provider.

Heart health today isn’t about popping a pill. It’s about knowing your body, managing your risks, and choosing the right tools - not the old ones.

Should I take aspirin every day to prevent a heart attack if I’m healthy?

No - if you’re healthy and have never had a heart attack, stroke, or stent, daily aspirin is not recommended for prevention. For most people, especially over 60, the risk of serious bleeding outweighs the small chance of preventing a heart event. Talk to your doctor instead about statins, blood pressure control, and lifestyle changes.

What if my parent had a heart attack? Should I take aspirin?

Family history raises your risk, but it doesn’t mean you need aspirin. What matters more is your own health: your cholesterol, blood pressure, whether you smoke, and if you have diabetes. Your doctor will use a risk calculator to see if your 10-year heart disease risk is over 10%. Only then might aspirin be considered - and only if you don’t have bleeding risks.

Is 81 mg aspirin safe for everyone?

No. Even low-dose aspirin (81 mg) can cause stomach bleeding, brain bleeds, or worsen ulcers. It’s not safe if you have a history of GI bleeding, take blood thinners, drink heavily, have kidney or liver disease, or are over 60 without existing heart disease. Always check with your doctor before starting or continuing.

Can I take aspirin if I have diabetes?

For people with diabetes over 40 who have other risk factors (like high blood pressure or smoking), aspirin may be considered. But only if their bleeding risk is low. The American Diabetes Association says it’s an option - not a requirement. Your doctor will weigh your individual risks before recommending it.

What’s the best way to prevent heart disease without aspirin?

Focus on four proven strategies: 1) Take a statin if your cholesterol is high or you have diabetes; 2) Keep your blood pressure under 120/80; 3) Get 150 minutes of brisk walking or exercise each week; 4) Eat a diet rich in vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and fish. These work better than aspirin and don’t carry bleeding risks.

Robert Wakeling

Hi, I'm Finnegan Shawcross, a pharmaceutical expert with years of experience in the industry. My passion lies in researching and writing about medications and their impact on various diseases. I dedicate my time to staying up-to-date with the latest advancements in drug development to ensure my knowledge remains relevant. My goal is to provide accurate and informative content that helps people make informed decisions about their health. In my free time, I enjoy sharing my knowledge by writing articles and blog posts on various health topics.