Aspirin and Heart Attacks

Aspirin may prevent blood clots from forming in the arteries of the heart, the primary cause of heart attacks in patients with coronary heart disease. I recommend taking a baby aspirin (81 mg) once daily–higher doses aren’t more effective and cause more side effects such as bleeding.

However, taking aspirin is just one of the ways you can reduce the risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Most people with coronary heart disease also need a cholesterol-lowering medication (a statin), but that depends on the lipid levels in the blood. You may want to discuss this with your physician.

If you smoke, you need to stop, and systolic blood pressure (the top number) should be brought below 140 mm Hg (or below 130 if you’re diabetic). Medications that lower blood pressure and may also prevent complications of coronary disease include angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and, especially if you’ve had a heart attack, beta-blockers.

Many studies have shown that fully implementing these preventative approaches–in addition to a healthy diet, weight loss in overweight patients, and moderate exercise–can greatly reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes in people with coronary heart disease.