# Should you take an aspirin every day? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 20, 2001, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-take-an-aspirin-every-day/77232 "2001-08-20T21:08:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-take-an-aspirin-every-day/77232/1 "2001-08-20T21:08:49Z")
So what’s the straight dope on taking an aspirin every day? I’ve talked to two MD’s about this. One says that, “Doing so will help prevent heart attacks.” The other says **not** to do it; it thins your blood, and bleeding may occur more easily in weak blood vessels. Who’s right? Perhaps those two docs should get together and arm wrestle… ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-take-an-aspirin-every-day/77232/2 "2001-08-20T21:13:56Z")
IANAD but my cardiologist suggested I take one BABY asprin a day since my cholesterol runs a little high. The downside might be that I bleed a little longer than I would otherwise… but preventing a stroke or heart attack seems like a reasonable trade-off… YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-take-an-aspirin-every-day/77232/3 "2001-08-20T21:27:41Z")
I recommend that all my patients over 40 take at least 80 mg (one baby aspirin) a day, unless they have contra-indications such as allergy, or a history of gastric bleeding, and others. It has been demonstrated to reduce the frequency of acute heart attack, to decrease the mortality rate from a heart attack, and it may also reduce the risk of ischemic stroke. It does make nosebleeds a bit more difficult to control, but not so much that one should avoid aspirin for fear of that. Qadgop, MD ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-take-an-aspirin-every-day/77232/4 "2001-08-20T22:04:38Z")
I drink wine instead. Recent studies indicate that wine is no better than beer. So sometimes I drink beer instead, to play it safe. Bottoms up. ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-take-an-aspirin-every-day/77232/5 "2001-08-20T23:03:56Z")
Have you ever heard of the guy that is playing it safe by wearing a belt and suspenders? Well, I do it by taking an aspirin and a couple of drinks. **BE SURE TO TAKE COATED ASPIRIN** ---
**Author:** ![El\_Zagna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@El\_Zagna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Zagna)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-take-an-aspirin-every-day/77232/6 "2001-08-20T23:23:20Z")
Does Advil count? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-take-an-aspirin-every-day/77232/7 "2001-08-21T03:18:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bnorton \* > \*\*Does Advil count? \*\* No. Advil (ibuprofen) does not have the anti-platelet effect that makes aspirin helpful. Nor does tylenol, naproxen, orudis, vioxx, celebrex, etc. ---
**Author:** ![IzzyR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/2acd7d/32.png) [@IzzyR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IzzyR)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-take-an-aspirin-every-day/77232/8 "2001-08-21T03:22:52Z")
Interestingly, I read somewhere that it is thought possible that artificial colorings used in foods (or maybe it was artificial flavorings) have a common ingredient with aspirin. The theory was that the average person ingests enough “aspirin” from these colorings to lower their heart attack risk. Apparently, there is some corolation between use of these ingredients and lowered heart attack rates. But it was only a theory. ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-take-an-aspirin-every-day/77232/9 "2001-08-21T23:05:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by IzzyR \* > \*\*Interestingly, I read somewhere that it is thought possible that artificial colorings used in foods (or maybe it was artificial flavorings) have a common ingredient with aspirin. The theory was that the average person ingests enough “aspirin” from these colorings to lower their heart attack risk. Apparently, there is some corolation between use of these ingredients and lowered heart attack rates. > > But it was only a theory. \*\* Aspirin is acetylsalicyclic acid. I don’t think artificial flavoring or colorings contain that. Most artificial colorings have dyes.