Shots - Health News
NPR••general
Key Points:
- President Donald Trump revealed he has been taking a daily dose of 325 milligrams of aspirin—four times the recommended low dose—for 25 years to thin his blood and protect his heart.
- Medical experts recommend a low dose of 81 milligrams aspirin daily for cardiovascular disease prevention, but recent guidelines advise against starting aspirin use after age 60 if no underlying heart issues exist.
- While Trump's higher aspirin dose is generally considered unnecessary, it is unlikely to be life-threatening; however, aspirin use increases risks of bleeding, especially in older adults.
- Some patients, such as those with prior heart attacks or bypass surgery, should continue low-dose aspirin lifelong, but Trump’s cardiovascular health is reported as excellent despite his chronic venous insufficiency diagnosis.
