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The Risk of Stroke Rates From Aspirin

According to the Mayo Clinic, aspirin is commonly used as a daily therapy to reduce the risk of stroke and heart attacks/disease. But daily aspirin isn't for everyone. Take it only if your doctor prescribes it.

  1. Stroke

    • A stroke occurs when fatty deposits cause blood clots to form in the opening of a blood vessel. A clot can block the passage of blood to the heart and portions of the brain, causing a heart attack or stroke.

    Aspirin

    • Aspirin reduces the risk of fatty deposits causing blood clots by reducing the body's ability to form clots. The use of aspirin in patients at risk for stroke is most successful in the treatment of female patients.

    Gender

    • Research conducted by the Duke University Health Group found that in 95,000 patients, aspirin significantly reduced the risk of stroke in women but showed no positive effect in reducing stroke risk in men.

    Treatment

    • The American Heart Association recommends aspirin as a preventative measure for people at risk of stroke. However, the use of aspirin is not recommended during a bleeding or hemorrhagic stroke, which is caused by ruptured blood vessels, because aspirin's anti-clotting agents can make that type of stroke worse.

    Ischemic Stroke

    • According to Duke Health, the most common form of stroke in the U.S. is an ischemic stroke, in which blood flow to the brain is blocked. The Duke researchers found that aspirin therapy had no effect on males affected by ischemic stroke, but did reduce the risk of this kind of stroke in women.

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