Sometimes, I am amazed at how slow our health care agencies are when it comes to reversing course.

For the past decade or so, I’ve been warning folks that the concept of taking a daily aspirin (baby aspirin or ½ a regular tablet) wasn’t the best idea.

Oh, sure there are folks who have an acceptable aspirin response system (ARS) that can benefit from this therapy- as long as they already had a compromised circulatory system.   (Note that the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association decided against a daily aspirin regime several years later,  in 2019.)

The issue is that aspirin is a blood thinner (similar in scope to coumadin or eliquis– which prevent blood clots).  As such, aspirin has a demonstrated effect to preclude clot formation in our blood vessels. (Those clots lead to brain or cardiac damage.) But, since it is a blood thinner, it can also lead to bleeding episodes that are fatal- especially among our seniors.

So, for most of us, the concept of a daily aspirin should not be in the cards.

Which is what the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) finally uttered this week. (The USPSTF is comprised of experts in disease prevention, using evidence-based medicine that promote various health care regimens.)  Because the studies I’ve been citing demonstrate that the risks involved with taking aspirin can at best mitigate the benefits; at the worst case,  all benefits are blotted  out entirely.

So, now it’s not just me, but all our health care advocates are saying that if you don’t have a history of stroke or heart attack, there is zero reason to consider a daily aspirin regimen.  (By the way, this same recommendation has been removed as a means to mitigate the risks of colorectal cancer- also because of excessive bleeding.)

As I reported long ago, the data indicate that daily low dose aspirin (81 mg or so) yields only a small benefit for middle aged folks (aged 40 to 59) who are at risk for cardiovascular disease.  It’s even considered more dangerous for folks over 60.

The new recommendations do not change the concept for folks who have already experienced a stroke or cardiac arrest- and have been following a low dose aspirin regimen.

Why is there a change in recommendations?   Because over the past two decades or so, we Americans have become far more adept at mediating our blood pressure and controlling our cholesterol.   So, the use of aspirin to preclude clot formation in our blood vessels no longer outweighs the certain risks of excessive bleeding.

I still vote for lifestyle adjustments- choosing a healthy diet, following the exercise regimen (30 minutes daily, but at least 150 minutes a week.  And, certainly no one should be smoking!