America. In 2017 alone, 300,000 women died from CVD. An umbrella
term for various problems, it includes heart disease, heart attack,
stroke, heart failure, arrhythmia and heart valve issues. Many of these
problems are the result of atherosclerosis, a buildup of plaque in your
arteries, which over time can become narrower and restrict blood
from your heart to the rest of your body.
Although you cannot control certain risk factors for CVD—like age,
gender, race or ethnicity and family history – there are lifestyle
changes that may help prevent CVD.
If you smoke, quit
Get regular exercise
Maintain a healthy weight
Control your blood pressure, cholesterol and triglycerides
Eat a healthy diet. Limit saturated fats, foods high in sodium and
added sugars; and eat lots of fresh fruit, vegetables and whole grains.
Limit alcohol
Manage stress
Manage diabetes
Get enough sleep
Aspirin is another medication, that as directed by a health care
professional, could aid in prevention of another heart attack or
ischemic stroke.
There are many reasons people may take aspirin for cardiovascular
disease protection. Sometimes a health care professional will
recommend aspirin for the prevention of a first heart attack or
ischemic stroke (this is called primary prevention). If a health care
professional has recommended this to you, it may be because you
have risk factors, like high blood pressure, high cholesterol or
diabetes, but no established cardiovascular disease.
Recent studies*have changed the primary prevention guidelines for
people found to be at low to moderate risk for CVD. Yet, the primary
prevention guidelines are still supportive of the use of aspirin for
certain individuals based on their personal health risk and with a
health care professional’s recommendation.
changed for patients who have already had a heart attack or ischemic
stroke, have a high underlying risk for CVD or have had a stent placed
or bypass surgery. This is what aspirin is approved to be used to treat
in the United States. For many of them, aspirin can be a life-saving
preventative treatment. This is called secondary prevention.
Cardiologist Nieca Goldberg, MD, medical director of the NYU
Langone Joan H. Tisch Center for Women’s Health in New York City
says: “Guidelines vary between organizations, but they’re evolving as
more research is done. Your doctor should guide you to the best
treatments for your personal health. Everyone has a different health
situation. Before starting an aspirin regimen, or stopping or changing
an existing regimen, it’s important to have a discussion with your
doctor.”
If you already take aspirin but want to stop, speak with a health care
professional.
Never start, change or stop an aspirin regimen without the advice of a
health care professional. If you are taking aspirin for secondary
prevention, going off it can actually increase your risk of another heart
attack by 63 percent or a clot-related stroke by 40 percent.
Aspirin is not appropriate for everyone, so be sure to talk to your
doctor before you begin an aspirin regimen.
This resource was created with support from Bayer® Aspirin.
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