At St. Josephs Health Products, we care about your health and strive to provide our customers with accurate answers to questions about our aspirin products. Below are some of the more frequently asked questions.

Please consult with your physician regarding any medical condition or use of medication.

Q: My doctor recommended a daily low dose aspirin regimen. How many St. Joseph Aspirin can I safely take?

A: If you have been prescribed a daily low dose aspirin regimen, many doctors recommend that you take one 81mg low dose aspirin daily. Although, it is safe to take up to two 81mg tablets daily. Consult with your physician before you start any medicine regimen.

Q: Can aspirin therapy help prevent recurrent heart attacks or strokes?

A: Aspirin has been shown to reduce the risk of recurrent heart attacks or ischemic strokes (strokes caused by a blood clot). Aspirin may also save your life when taken during a suspected heart attack. Both men and women may benefit from aspirin use.

Q: Who should take aspirin to prevent recurrent heart attacks or strokes?

A: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of aspirin to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes in men and women who have had a heart attack or ischemic stroke or who have stable or unstable angina. Aspirin is not appropriate for everyone, so be sure to talk to your doctor before you begin or modify an aspirin regimen. If you have one or more of the following conditions, talk to your doctor about whether an aspirin regimen is right for you:

• You have had a heart attack
• You have had an ischemic stroke or a mini-stroke (transient ischemic attack)
• You have angina
• Or, you have had certain heart procedures, such as angioplasty or a bypass operation.

Q: Should apparently healthy people take aspirin to prevent heart attacks?

A: For apparently healthy people without any symptoms of heart disease, the risks of an aspirin therapy may outweigh the benefits. If you have high blood cholesterol, diabetes, a family history of heart disease, or other major risk factors for a heart attack, talk to your doctor about what you can do to reduce your risk of heart attack and heart disease and whether an aspirin regimen is right for you. Your doctor will weigh your risk of heart attack or heart disease against the potential side effects of long-term aspirin use.

Q: Should you take aspirin if you suspect you are having a heart attack?

A: Studies show that taking aspirin as soon as a heart attack is suspected may reduce the risk of death or complications from the heart attack. If you suspect you are having a heart attack, get emergency medical care immediately. Ask your doctor now if you should take aspirin in the event of a suspected heart attack.

Q: Can aspirin prevent all kinds of strokes?

A: It is important to know that there are two kinds of strokes. An ischemic stroke is caused by a blood clot blocking the flow of blood in part of the brain. About four out of five strokes are ischemic. A hemorrhagic stroke is caused by bleeding from a burst blood vessel in the brain or on the surface of the brain. About one out of five strokes are hemorrhagic. An aspirin regimen may help prevent a second ischemic stroke but will not prevent hemorrhagic strokes. In fact, aspirin use slightly increases the risk of hemorrhagic strokes. If you have a history of strokes, make sure you know what kind of strokes you had. Talk to your doctor and make sure aspirin use is right for you.

Q: Do other OTC drugs help treat or prevent heart attacks or strokes?

A: Aspirin is the only OTC drug that has been shown to prevent heart attack or stroke. Although acetaminophen (for example, Tylenol®), ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®IB), and naproxen sodium (Aleve®) are like aspirin (St. Joseph Aspirin), because they are drugs that treat pain and fever, only aspirin has demonstrated a beneficial effect for recurrent heart attack and ischemic stroke prevention.

Q: Is aspirin safe?

A: It is important that you talk to your doctor to help you decide if an aspirin regimen is right for you. For most people, aspirin is safe when used as directed. But for some people, aspirin can cause side effects. Some of these side effects, such as bleeding in the stomach or other bleeding, can be serious. This is rare and usually related to long-term use of high-dosage aspirin beyond traditional over-the-counter use. Long-term use of aspirin must be directed and monitored by your doctor.

Q: What are the possible side effects of long-term aspirin use?

A: Long-term aspirin use may be associated with side effects. These may include increased or prolonged stomach or intestinal bleeding and stomach ulcers. For most people, however, long-term aspirin use is safe when directed and monitored by a doctor.

Q: Who should avoid taking aspirin?

A: If you talk with your doctor about an aspirin regimen, ask if there is any reason not to take aspirin. Some people have conditions that aspirin may make worse. In general, your doctor will look at whether you have:

• An allergy to aspirin or other salicylates
• Asthma
• Stomach ulcers or a history of ulcers
• Inherited bleeding disorders (hemophilia) or acquired bleeding disorders (liver disease or vitamin K deficiency)
• A history of hemorrhagic stroke (a stroke caused by bleeding in the brain)
• Reduced liver or kidney function
• Uncontrolled high blood pressure

Tell your doctor if you have three or more alcoholic drinks every day. Aspirin can interact with other drugs you may be taking. For example, if you are taking a blood-thinning medicine, such as heparin or warfarin, aspirin use can increase your risk of bleeding. Talk to your doctor about all of your medications – both non-prescription (OTC) and prescription – before you begin an aspirin regimen.