Talking to Your Doctor About Aspirin and Preventing Heart Attack and Stroke

This article is for people who are at risk for a heart attack or stroke, or their care partner, as well as others who want to learn more about preventing heart attack or stroke. The goal is to encourage patients to discuss ways to prevent a heart attack or stroke with their doctor.

You will learn about:

• Factors that may increase your chance of having a heart attack or stroke

• Understanding how aspirin can help lower your chances of having a heart attack or stroke

• When aspirin may be right for you, and its benefits and risks

• The importance of discussing a heart attack and stroke prevention plan with your doctor

• Goals of a prevention plan and follow-up visits

• Questions to ask your doctor

It's important to know what can increase your chance (also called risk factors) of having a heart attack or stroke.

Some risk factors can't be changed.

However, you can lower or get rid of other risk factors and improve your overall health. You might even save your life.

Some risk factors for a heart attack or stroke can't be changed:

• Age: As a person gets older, the risk grows, especially after age 45

• Family history: You have a greater risk if a close relative -- such as a parent, brother, or sister -- had a heart attack or stroke

• Medical history: If you already have heart disease or a blood disorder, your risk is higher; autoimmune conditions (such as rheumatoid arthritis) also increase your risk

Most adults have at least 1 of these top risk factors for having a heart attack or stroke:

• High blood pressure

• High low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (bad) cholesterol

• Smoking

Others risk factors you can change include:

• Diabetes

• Drinking too much alcohol (more than 2 drinks a day for men or more than 1 drink a day for women)

• High stress level

• Not enough exercise

• Overweight or obesity

• Poor diet (high in sugar, salt, cholesterol, or saturated or trans fat)

If you have high blood pressure, or high levels of cholesterol or blood sugar (diabetes), your doctor may give you a prescription for medicine to help control these health conditions.

If your doctor doesn't recommend medicine, they may recommend the following goals:

• Eating a heart-healthy diet

• Getting the right kind and amount of exercise

• Losing weight

• Not drinking too much alcohol

• Quitting smoking

Your doctor may also recommend aspirin to help prevent a heart attack or stroke.

Your doctor might recommend you take low-dose (an 81-mg tablet) aspirin each day.

Aspirin is often given to people who have already had a heart attack or stroke, but it can also help lower your chance of having a first heart attack or stroke.

Aspirin works by helping to stop the development of clots in your bloodstream that could cause a heart attack or stroke.

Aspirin also decreases inflammation in your body and your bloodstream, which helps lower your chances of having a heart attack or stroke.

Taking aspirin is not for everyone. It could increase your chance of having a bleeding problem, so you should only take aspirin for your heart as directed by your doctor.

Aspirin may not be recommended if you:

• Have an ulcer in your stomach or digestive tract

• Have a bleeding problem, or had one in the past

• Often take medicines for pain called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen

• Take certain other medicines, such as blood thinners

• Are allergic to aspirin

Your doctor will review your medical history, risk factors, and any medicines you are taking or allergies you may have, and work with you to create a prevention plan. The plan may include changes that you have to make in your daily life, as well as medicines.

Your doctor might also suggest you see other healthcare team members to help you meet your goals. A dietitian can create a food plan to help you lose weight. A smoking cessation counselor can help you stop smoking.

Regular follow-up visits can help you make sure you are on track with your prevention plan and to meet your goals.

The factors that put you at risk for heart attack or stroke can change over time, so you'll need your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels checked regularly by your doctor. Your doctor will also review all your medicines, and adjust them if necessary.

It's important to work with your doctor to find a plan that works for you, so you can live a heart-healthy life.

You may want to ask your doctor questions about your chances of having a heart attack or stroke, and if aspirin can help prevent them, such as:

• What risk factors do I have that may increase my chances of having a heart attack or stroke?

• What can I do -- or not do -- to help prevent having a heart attack or stroke?

• Is aspirin right for me?

• How might aspirin help lower my chances of having a heart attack or stroke?

• What goals should I be working toward as part of my prevention plan?

Congratulations!

You have successfully completed the program: Talking to Your Doctor About Aspirin and Preventing Heart Attack and Stroke