FDA Issues Warning About Aspirin and Heart Attacks
Dr. Richard Besser explains why taking aspirin to prevent heart attacks may not be right for everyone.

A new warning from the FDA about aspirin and heart attacks, and ABC’s Dr. Richard Besser is here to explain it, Rich, so many of us have heard about the advice that you know,taking a baby aspirin to prevent a heart attack. But this warning says that it’s not for everyone.
Yeah, I mean, this is really a big controversy, there’s absolutely no disagreement if you’ve had a heart attack or stroke, taking a daily aspirin will reduce the chances that you have another one and save lives. But an aspirin manufacturer wanted to say in the label, taking an aspirin to prevent your first heart attack. FDA said no way.
No, I don’t have any heart problems, but my doctor has recommended, you know, take an aspirin. That’s right and many doctors recommending that, what FDA found though was that the evidence to prevent that first heart attack isn’t there, and aspirin can cause internal bleeding. And so they don’t think it’s for everybody. But here’s the thing, there’s a big disagreement here that American Health Association says take that aspirin even the government panel that was asked to review this says if you are at high risk, take

the aspirin. So if you’re already on an aspirin, I wouldn’t stop until you talk to your doctor.
And the FDA has been on this for a long time.
They were asked to rule on this 10 years ago. It took them 10 years to come to this conclusion. And I think we haven’t heard the end of the controversy.
Ok, Richard Besser, thanks very much.