baby aspirin

@wisner We are not medical professionals here on Mayo Clinic Connect. We are fellow patients and caregivers from all walks of life, sharing our experiences and journeys with others. Each person has a unique story!

What has your primary care doctor advised you about taking baby aspirin? Are you currently dealing with a blood cancer?
Ginger

Some people should NOT take a baby aspirin. An example would be someone who is already on a DOAC (direct Oral Anti-coagulant) which has been prescribed, but where the aspirin was not prescribed by that same authority/specialist. As Ginger says above, almost nobody who replies on these fora admits to being a health care professional, so take what we suggest with a grain of salt.

For healthy people who are aging, who have no marked co-morbidities, and who can be expected to have modest amounts of atherosclerosis and risk of ischemia, a baby aspirin would not present a great problem and might be a good idea, if not a great one. But you should really run it past your family doctor to be sure, to have it on your record, and to ensure you don't inadvertently place yourself behind the proverbial 8-ball.

Check with your doctor first. I have collagenous colitis and have to avoid all NSAIDs because they irritate the GI tract, and cause flares in me. I had cardiovascular problems with long covid (LC) last year and the cardiologist recommended an aspirin a day till the LC was gone. Baby aspirin for 6 days was enough to ramp up my autoimmune colitis, so I had to stop. Aspirin thins the blood so can potentially decrease risk of heart attack and strokes, but is not recommended for folk already on blood thinners. as @gloaming indicated. Because NSAIDs are anticoagulants they also increase the risk of bleeding, such as from cuts, GI, or hemorrhagic strokes. Instead, I exercise, stay hydrated (most people don't drink enough water), eat healthy, and the usual stuff doctors tell us to do.

Mayo has very long interesting comment on baby aspirin issue which someone posted and I read with great interest YESTERDAY!. Understand, this was a Mayo comment, not the readers comment! But I can’t find it again today! HELP

Ditto, check with your doctor. I had a friend on baby aspirin who then was put on prodaxia (?) .....doctor forgot to tell him to stop the aspirin, he landed in ER. My friend "thinks" he is the Dr only patient and knows all his problems. I tell him the Dr sees 10 or more different patients a day, and can't remember all the conditions and medications of each, even with digital charts. So talk with your doctor

"Blood Thinners"
In response to @kayabbott,
These are usually anticoagulants. There is also a supplement risk to be careful of as some supplements also have anticoagulant properties. In particular, turmeric, which is very popular (and works well for me in at least slowing the progress of my MGUS). This is not alone with anticoagulant properties. Bromelain is another one and there is probably quite a few more.
So take care with supplements too.