Common drug taken daily by 19million Americans increases the risk of internal bleeding- and 3million are taking it against medical advice READ MORE: Doctors warn of taking an aspirin every day By Luke Andrews Senior Health Reporter For Dailymail.Com Published: 10:48 EDT, 25 June 2024 | Updated: 11:00 EDT, 25 June 2024 e-mail 10 View comments A quarter of older adults are still taking a drug that could cause them to suffer from internal bleeding, a study has found. Aspirin was once recommended for people over 60 in the US as a way to prevent a heart attack or stroke.
But in 2018, medical organizations began to dial back the advice , saying that for those who hadn't suffered from the conditions before, any benefits were outweighed by the risks — which include bleeding in the intestines or the brain. While the study found use of aspirin did fall in the age group after the change in recommendation, it also revealed that 18.5million seniors were still using it in 2021, the latest date available.
Of these, 3.3million — or nearly five percent of the over 60s population — were doing so without any medical advice. Aspirin should not be taken by those over 60 years old to prevent a first heart attack or stroke, doctors say Aspirin is still recommended for people over 60 who have already suffered from a heart attack or stroke because it can slash the risk of a second by approximately 25 percent.
It is an inexpensive drug — costing as little as nine cents per tablet — and works.