Take Action: Talk with Your Doctor
Take these steps to protect your health if you are at risk of heart attack or stroke.
Find out if daily aspirin is right for you.
Your doctor can help you decide if low-dose aspirin is the right choice for you. Talk with your doctor about:
- Your risk of heart attack or stroke
- What kind of aspirin to take
- How much to take
- How often to take it
- Side effects that it may cause
It's important to tell your doctor about all the other medicines you take, including vitamins, herbs, and over-the-counter medicines (medicines you can get without a prescription). It may be dangerous to mix aspirin with other medicines.
What about cost?
Aspirin is inexpensive and sold over-the-counter. For some adults, aspirin is covered under the Affordable Care Act, the health care reform law passed in 2010. Check with your insurance provider to find out what’s included in your plan.
For information about other services covered by the Affordable Care Act, visit HealthCare.gov.
Know your family’s health history.
Your family history affects your risk for heart attack, stroke, and colorectal cancer. Use this family health history tool to keep track of your family’s health. Share this information with your doctor.
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Aspirin Tips
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Benefits and Risks
Take Action: Aspirin Tips
Use aspirin safely.
If you and your doctor decide that regularly taking low-dose aspirin is right for you, follow these safety tips:
- Make sure you understand how much aspirin to take and how often to take it. Most people who take aspirin to prevent disease take 81 mg every day –– though your doctor may recommend you take a higher dose every other day.
- Talk with your doctor before you start taking a new medicine or vitamin. Ask if it’s safe to take with aspirin.
- If you drink alcohol, drink only in moderation. This means no more than 1 drink a day for women and no more than 2 drinks a day for men. Alcohol can increase some risks of taking aspirin regularly.
- Check with your doctor first if you want to stop taking aspirin regularly.
- Get more tips about using medicines safely.
Make it easy to remember.
Here are a few things that may help you remember to take aspirin regularly:
- Take it at the same time every day. For example, take it after you brush your teeth or when you eat breakfast.
- Put a reminder note on your bathroom mirror where you will see it each day.
- Use a weekly pillbox to keep track of the medicines you take each day.
Take Action: Healthy Habits
Take steps to protect your health.
Taking low-dose aspirin regularly is just one of many ways to stay healthy.
To lower your risk of heart disease, stroke, and colorectal cancer:
Keep your heart healthy.
Eating healthy is another way to lower your risk of heart disease and stroke. Find out more about keeping your heart healthy and reducing your risk of stroke.
Get tested for colorectal cancer.
If you are age 50 to 75, get screened (tested) regularly for colorectal cancer. Screening can help prevent colorectal cancer or find it early, when it’s easier to treat. Learn more about colorectal cancer screening.
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Aspirin Tips