Why Routine Daily Aspirin Isn’t Recommended for Most People Anymore

Daily aspirin once carried a “prevention” reputation, but experts in this report say many people are still relying on old messages that no longer reflect current guidance. Clinicians stopped recommending routine daily aspirin for most people years ago, citing evidence that it does not extend healthy lifespan for most older adults and may bring long-term risks, including bleeding and cancer concerns.

A public spotlight on dosing and why it matters

The Wall Street Journal reported that President Donald Trump, 79, takes 325 milligrams of aspirin daily. The report notes this is higher than the 81 milligrams commonly referenced for cardiovascular disease prevention. Clinicians quoted in the story warned that higher dosing can increase risk without providing extra benefit for most people.

Why old prevention messaging is hard to undo

Anne Murray, MD, a geriatrician and epidemiologist at Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute in Minneapolis, says aspirin’s over-the-counter availability and its long history as a “good for you” staple make misconceptions stubborn. The report also notes that for decades, aspirin was actively promoted for prevention—especially for heart attacks—before recommendations narrowed.

In 2022, recommendations tightened to include only people who have already had a stroke or heart attack, as well as those who have had a stent placed in an artery. Experts in the report argue that this shift has not been communicated effectively. One analysis cited found that in 2023, more than 1 in 10 adults who should not be taking preventive aspirin were still doing so.

Myth 1: “Daily aspirin will keep me healthy for longer.”

The report says this is not true for most older adults who have never had a heart attack or stroke. A landmark 2018 aspirin study co-authored by Murray found that daily low-dose aspirin did not extend “healthy lifespan” in healthy adults aged 70 and older. In this research, healthy lifespan was defined as avoiding physical disability, dementia onset, or death. A follow-up study that tracked participants for additional years and was published in September reached the same conclusion: aspirin did not help people live longer or healthier lives, even after the original trial ended.

Myth 2: “Aspirin can prevent heart problems.”

According to the report, this is true only for certain people. Earlier research once suggested a daily “baby aspirin” supported heart health, but later studies found aspirin therapy is linked to higher bleeding and cancer risks than previously recognized. That is why current thinking, as described here, relies on a careful harm–benefit tradeoff that should be assessed with a doctor.

If someone has had a heart attack or stroke, the report says a doctor will weigh overall health information to decide whether aspirin’s benefits outweigh its risks. For people without a history of heart problems, Murray and Donald M. Lloyd-Jones, MD, point instead to the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8. The report specifically highlights improving weight and blood pressure and exercising regularly as proven approaches to lowering heart risk.

Myth 3: “If it’s over the counter and low-dose, aspirin is harmless.”

The report stresses that availability does not equal safety. It cites the original 2018 study showing a 38% increased risk of bleeding among healthy older people who took preventive aspirin for five years. Lloyd-Jones, described as a past president of the American Heart Association and a preventive medicine section chief at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine in Massachusetts says people should take daily aspirin only if it is prescribed by their doctor.

Myth 4: “Thinner blood is always better, so higher doses are more effective.”

“More is not better,” Lloyd-Jones says in the report. Studies described here found that low-dose aspirin (81 mg daily) can be as effective as high-dose aspirin at preventing the types of clots that cause most heart attacks and strokes. The report adds that higher doses, such as 325 mg daily, raise bleeding risk without providing extra protection for most people.

Myth 5: “I’ve taken aspirin for years without bleeding, so it’s safe.”

The report says a lack of bleeding so far does not prove safety. It cites an analysis published in November 2025 stating that aspirin increases bleeding risk, and that risk declines after stopping aspirin.

Myth 6: “Aspirin prevents cancer.”

The report describes aspirin’s relationship to cancer risk as not fully understood and potentially concerning in older adults. It notes that while some studies have associated regular aspirin use with lower risk of certain cancers, including colorectal cancer, the overall findings are nuanced. Another analysis from Murray and colleagues’ long-term trial found that older adults taking aspirin to prevent a first heart attack or stroke had an increased risk of developing cancer—especially being diagnosed at stage 3 or later. Murray warns the findings suggest aspirin may accelerate cancer progression in older people, signaling caution in this age group.

Myth 7: “If someone else takes extra aspirin, I can too.”

The report emphasizes that a personal choice by someone else is not medical advice. It says a primary care doctor can calculate a person’s risk for heart attack and other cardiovascular problems, shaped heavily by family history and age. Because age plays such a major role, the report highlights the value of annual primary care visits as people get older.

The bottom line in this report

Murray and Lloyd-Jones say people who have a doctor’s prescription for daily aspirin should continue taking it. For everyone else, they recommend discussing personal risk and benefit with a doctor before starting—and not beginning daily aspirin without a prescription.

For patients, the main implication is that aspirin is not a one-size-fits-all prevention tool. The report repeatedly frames daily aspirin as a decision that should be individualized with a clinician, especially because bleeding risk can rise and higher doses may increase harm without added benefit for most people. It also highlights why some patients may need clearer counseling: older guidance still influences behavior, and over-the-counter access can make risks feel easy to overlook.

For medical travelers, the article underscores the value of continuity and documentation. If someone is already prescribed daily aspirin, the report’s message is to stay on it—but patients may want a clear medication list and a risk–benefit review with a physician, particularly when care is split across countries or providers.

FAQs

Q1: Do doctors recommend routine daily aspirin for most people?

No. The report says doctors stopped recommending routine daily aspirin for most people years ago.

Q2: What did the report say about President Donald Trump’s aspirin use?

It cites reporting that he takes 325 mg daily and notes experts raised concern that higher doses increase risk without extra benefit for most people.

Q3: Does daily low-dose aspirin help healthy adults over 70 live longer or healthier lives?

The report says a 2018 study found it did not extend healthy lifespan in healthy adults aged 70 and older, and a follow-up published in September reached the same conclusion.

Q4: What’s the difference between low-dose (81 mg) and higher-dose (325 mg) aspirin in this report?

The report says low-dose aspirin can be as effective as higher doses for preventing common clot-related heart attacks and strokes, while higher doses increase bleeding risk without added benefit for most people.

Q5: If someone hasn’t had bleeding while taking aspirin, does that prove it’s safe?

No. The report cites a November 2025 analysis stating aspirin raises bleeding risk, and that the risk falls after stopping.

Medical Disclaimer

“This content is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice.”