Aspirin is thought to be beneficial due to its anti-clotting effect on the blood and anti-inflammatory properties. Evidence has existed for an inflammatory process contributing to the formation of plaque. However, regular use of low-dose aspirin does not appear to prevent first heart attacks in women younger than 65, as it does in men.

In March of 2005, the Women’s Health Study, which was supported by the National Institutes of Health’s National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the National Cancer Institute, concluded that for women over 65, taking low-dose aspirin every other day does appear help reduce the risk of heart attack; however, the findings do not apply to women between the ages of 45 and 64. The risk of ischemic stroke was reduced for all women in the study.

It is very important for men and women to weigh the risk and benefits of taking aspirin and to consult with their doctor. Aspirin can increase the risk of getting kidney disease, ulcers, liver disease, and hemorrhagic stroke. Therefore, aspirin should only be considered after talking with your physician. Above all, women, like men, should adopt the well-proven approaches that reduce the risk of heart disease—eating for heart health, getting regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, and controlling high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes.