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Morning Rounds: When to take daily aspirin

Posted at 2:42 PM, Dec 18, 2019
and last updated 2019-12-18 16:46:48-05

MISSOULA — We answer your medical questions every Wednesday on Montana This Morning during our Morning Rounds segment.

If you have a question that you’d like us to answer, just send us an email at morningrounds@kpax.com.

Dr. Kasey Harbine with St. Patrick Hospital has information about when you should -- and shouldn't -- take aspirin on a daily basis.


The American Heart Assoication has more information about the use of daily aspirin on their website, including the following:

For decades, a daily dose of aspirin was considered an easy way to prevent a heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular event.

Then came a string of recent studies challenging that assumption. With this latest research in mind, a new set of guidelines to help people stay heart-healthy is advising against daily aspirin use for prevention. It may actually cause more harm than good.

"We're talking about healthy people who don't have known heart disease or stroke, who might have been considering or already taking an aspirin to prevent that heart attack or stroke in the first place," said Dr. Erin Michos, one of the writers of new prevention guidelinesdeveloped by the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology.

The new recommendation doesn't apply to people who already have had a stroke or heart attack, or who have undergone bypass surgery or a procedure to insert a stent in their coronary arteries.