When A Cardiologist Says To Take Aspirin For Heart Health

The NHS says that after you have called 999 to ask for help, taking 300mg of aspirin if you have it may be useful should you notice signs of a heart attack.

Of course, this only applies if you don’t have an aspirin allergy, and if you don’t have any within easy access, don’t worry. The British Heart Foundation (BHF) says, “Do not go looking for it if you think you’re having a heart attack because it’s important to rest and stay calm until help arrives”.

The BHF added that sometimes doctors prescribe a daily low dose of aspirin, which can cost 50p a pack, for those who have had heart attacks or are at risk of having one.

Here, we asked private cardiologist and founder of The National Heart Clinic, Dr Francesco Lo Monaco, why it works, and whether we should all consider keeping aspirin in our routines.

“Aspirin is an antiplatelet medicine and works by making the blood less sticky. In normal health, it’s important that cells can stick together to block cuts and breaks in blood vessels, but in people who are at risk of heart attacks and strokes, aspirin can stop blood cells from sticking together and forming a clot,” Dr Lo Monaco said.

For that reason, “People who have had a heart attack or stroke are often advised to take a low daily dose of aspirin to reduce the chances of it happening again, [and] people who have a cardiovascular disease may also be advised to take a low dose of daily aspirin”.

But all medications have side effects, he added.

That includes aspirin, the long-term use of which includes indigestion, bleeding more than usual, and even stomach ulcers. Some research shows taking aspirin daily can almost double your risk of experiencing major bleeding episodes.

“The current advice is that aspirin is not suitable to be taken daily by everyone… it’s important to understand what is right for you. Only take daily low-dose aspirin if it has been recommended for your doctor.”

“If someone has symptoms suggestive of a heart attack (central crushing chest pain), aspirin reduces clot formation and improves outcomes,” Dr Lo Monaco ended.

“However, it is not recommended for routine prophylactic use in the general population, as the bleeding risk outweighs the benefit in those without established cardiovascular disease.

“Worth noting: always call emergency services first – aspirin is an adjunct, not a substitute.”

Symptoms of a heart attack can include:

• Crushing or squeezing chest pain that might spread to your arm, neck, or jaw,
• Feeling short of breath,
• Feeling nauseous or vomiting,
• Feeling like you have indigestion, including a burning feeling in your chest,
• Sweating,
• Pale, blue, or grey skin: “on black or brown skin this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands,” the NHS said.

Call 999 immediately if you experience these.