Minnesota doctors welcomed recent federal health guidelines on daily use of low-dose aspirin to prevent heart attacks and strokes.
The new advice — which spells out by age and risk who is likely to benefit from taking an 81 milligram-pill a day — is clear and helpful, many doctors say.
“We’ve had a lot of patients who decided for whatever reason on their own to start taking aspirin,” said Dr. Rae Ann Williams, who specializes in internal medicine at HealthPartners’ Como Clinic in St. Paul. “This recommendation really helps us tailor that recommendation and have a much better conversation with patients about whether or not they are at high risk, and help guide them in their decision-making.”
Numerous studies have shown that taking a low-dose aspirin a day can prevent a heart attack or stroke, leading causes of death and disability in the United States.