How Does Aspirin Work To Prevent Heart Attacks?
Aspirin improves blood flow by reducing the stickiness of the platelets — the cells that cause blood to clot. Regular aspirin use helps prevent clots from forming as readily and helps to keep arteries open. What Are the Risks? Regular aspirin use can cause bleeding in the stomach or brain, especially if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure. Aspirin is most beneficial if you’re at high risk (anything over 3 percent) for developing a heart attack within the next 5 years. People at low risk may be harmed by aspirin because the risk for serious side effects is higher than the risk of a heart attack. How Can I Find Out My Risk for a Heart Attack? Several things determine your risk, such as sex, age, blood pressure, total serum cholesterol level, diabetes, and cigarette smoking. To calculate your own risk, consult one of the easy-to-use risk assessment tools on the Internet, such as the National Cholesterol Education Program’s calculator for estimating your 10-year risk of having a hea
