Daily Aspirin Risks May Outweigh Benefits, Panel Says

WASHINGTON, DC — While middle-aged and older Americans are often advised to take a single aspirin daily to reduce their risk of having a first heart attack or stroke, an influential medical panel is urging them to think again as it overhauls guidelines related to aspirin use.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is now recommending that adults 60 or older stop taking a daily aspirin to lower the chances of a heart attack or stroke, concluding that there is “no net benefit” in doing so, The Washington Post reported.

The change in recommendation could affect millions of Americans. While aspirin is a blood thinner and can help deter heart attacks and strokes by preventing clots from forming in the blood vessels, aspirin also can cause major bleeding that could lead to serious injury or death.

Read more via The Washington Post