Common questions about low-dose aspirin

Aspirin slows the blood's clotting action by making platelets less sticky.

Platelets are blood cells that stick together and block cuts and breaks in blood vessels, so they're important in normal health. But in people at risk of heart attacks and stroke, platelets can stick together inside already narrowed blood vessels to form a clot. The clot can stop blood flowing to the heart or brain and cause a heart attack or stroke.

If you take it every day, low-dose aspirin stops platelets clumping together to form unwanted blood clots, and helps to prevent heart attacks and stroke.

You may not notice any difference in how you feel after you start taking low-dose aspirin. This does not mean that it's not working.

Carry on taking daily low-dose aspirin even if you feel well, as you'll still be getting the benefits.

Low-dose aspirin is generally safe to take for a long time. In fact, it works best if you take it for many months or years.

Occasionally, low-dose aspirin can cause an ulcer in your stomach or gut if you take it for a long time.

If you're at risk of getting a stomach ulcer, your doctor may prescribe a medicine to help protect your stomach.

Aspirin can cause ulcers in your stomach or gut, especially if you take it for a long time or in big doses.

Your doctor may tell you not to take aspirin if you have a stomach ulcer, or if you've had one in the past.

If you're at risk of getting a stomach ulcer and you need a painkiller, take paracetamol instead of aspirin as it's gentler on your stomach.

If you cannot take low-dose aspirin, you may be able to take another medicine that helps prevent blood clots, such as clopidogrel, instead.

Like aspirin, these medicines prevent blood clots from forming and reduce the chances of heart attack and stroke in people at high risk of them.

No, this is not recommended.

If you have had a heart attack or stroke, or you're at high risk of either, studies have shown that the benefits of taking daily low-dose aspirin far outweigh the risk of side effects.

But if you do not have heart disease and are not considered to be at high risk of developing it, the risk of side effects (particularly the risk of bleeding) outweighs the benefit of preventing blood clots.

Aspirin does not affect any contraception, including the combined pill, progestogen-only pill or emergency contraception.

Yes, you can drink alcohol while taking low-dose aspirin.

But drinking too much alcohol while you're taking aspirin can irritate your stomach.

You can eat and drink normally while taking low-dose aspirin.

• Quit smoking – smoking increases your heart rate and blood pressure and increases your risk of heart attack and stroke. Try to avoid secondhand smoke, too.
• Cut down on alcohol – try to keep to the recommended guidelines.
• Exercise – regular exercise keeps your heart and blood vessels in good condition. It does not need to be too energetic, walking every day is enough.
• Eat well – aim to eat a diet that includes plenty of fruit and veg, wholegrains, fat-free or low-fat dairy products and lean proteins. It's a good idea to cut down on salt, too. Aim for no more than 6g of salt a day.
• Deal with stress – when you're anxious or upset, your heart beats faster, you breathe more heavily, and your blood pressure often goes up. This raises your risk of heart attack and stroke. Find ways to reduce stress in your life. To give your heart a rest, try napping or putting your feet up when possible. Spend time with friends and family to be social and help keep stress at bay.
• Vaccinations – if you have heart failure, it's recommended that you have the flu vaccine every year and the pneumococcal vaccine as recommended by your GP. Ask your doctor about these vaccinations. You can have them free on the NHS. Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination is recommended for most people. Make sure you’ve had all the doses that you are eligible for. Talk to your doctor if you think you might be in one of the at risk groups.