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<div class="zn-body__paragraph">Three <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/16/health/low-dose-aspirin-bn/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">recent studies </a>found that taking a daily low-dose aspirin is, at best, a waste of money for healthy older adults. At worst, it may raise their risk of internal bleeding and early death.</div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">"Aspirin should be limited to people at the highest risk of cardiovascular disease and a very low risk of bleeding," Blumenthal said.</div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">Patients should work closely with their doctors to establish their risk for bleeding. That <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3888359/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">risk</a> rises as one ages or develops kidney disease, heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. A history of ulcers or bleeding, especially in the gastrointestinal tract, or anemia is also a risk factor. Certain medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids, direct oral anticoagulants and warfarin, a blood thinner, can also increase the chance of bleeding.</div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">The guidelines stress that statins -- along with lifestyle changes such as a heart-healthy diet, regular exercise, weight loss and avoiding smoking or vaping tobacco -- should be used to prevent heart disease in anyone with LDL levels of more than 190 milligrams per deciliter. LDL stands for low-density lipoprotein and is the "bad" cholesterol that clogs arteries and leads to heart disease.</div>
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<div>Sandee LaMotte, CNN</div>