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Question:

Is baby aspirin safe if you are diagnosed with hypertension?

Is baby aspirin safe if you are diagnosed with hypertension?  I'm a high blood pressure patient at age 60. I was told by my primary care doctor it is not safe to take baby aspirin daily because it can cause stroke or bleeding in the brain. Any suggestion?

submitted by Asif from Dallas, Texas on 12/10/2012

Answer:

by Texas Heart Institute cardiologist, Atasu Nayak, MD    

Thanks for the question. In women aged 55 to 79 years, ASA 75/81 mg/day [baby aspirin or low-dose aspirin] decreases the incidence of ischemic stroke and first heart attack. It outweighs the risk of an increase in gastrointestinal hemorrhage. I would recommend baby ASA a day unless you have increased risk for gastrointestinal bleeding. Please discuss this with your cardiologist and primary care doctor before you start taking this medication. 

See also on this site:  

• Aspirin
• Heart Disease Risk Factors 
• Heart Information Center  

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Updated January 2013