Doctor explains how baby aspirin helps during heart attack: ‘Chewing it can help slow…’
Hindustan Times • • health
Key Points:
- Aspirin, classified as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), is commonly used to treat mild to moderate pain, inflammation, and arthritis, and is also used in low doses as "baby aspirin" during heart attacks.
- Baby aspirin (81 mg) works by inhibiting platelets to slow clot formation during a heart attack caused by a blood clot, potentially limiting heart muscle damage if taken while waiting for emergency services.
- Aspirin is not effective for heart attacks caused by strokes, nor for chest pain due to anxiety, acid reflux, or muscle strain, and routine use increases bleeding risk, especially in those without known heart disease.
- In cases of new or concerning chest pain, the priority should be to
