• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup

2

Markets tumble worldwide as Fed resets expectations: $400 billion wiped off SpaceX stock

3

Current price of oil as of June 23, 2026

1

After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup

2

Markets tumble worldwide as Fed resets expectations: $400 billion wiped off SpaceX stock

3

Current price of oil as of June 23, 2026
Healthheart disease

The aspirin mistake: 29 million take it daily, not realizing costs outweigh benefits

By
Lindsey Leake
Lindsey Leake
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Lindsey Leake
Lindsey Leake
Down Arrow Button Icon
February 3, 2025, 8:04 PM ET
An older man wearing a business suit holds a pill in one hand and a glass of water in the other.
Nearly half of survey respondents (48%) incorrectly said that the benefits of taking low-dose aspirin daily to lower one’s odds of having a stroke or heart attack outweigh the risks, according to a report published Feb. 3, 2025, by the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania.Nastasic/Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

The decades-old medical advice that an aspirin a day keeps a heart attack away is outdated. Yet about half of U.S. adults are unaware that the consensus has changed for healthy older people not at increased risk of heart disease, a new survey says, a misconception that could be putting them in danger.

Recommended Video

Nearly one in two respondents (48%) wrongly said that the benefits of taking low-dose aspirin daily to lower one’s odds of having a stroke or heart attack outweigh the risks, according to a survey published Feb. 3 by the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) at the University of Pennsylvania. Another 39% of the more than 1,700 respondents were unsure; just 13% correctly indicated that the risks are now thought to prevail over the benefits.

Because aspirin is a blood thinner, it can help prevent clogged arteries, thereby lowering the risk of stroke or heart attack. However, the over-the-counter medication comes with an increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and may not be the safest prevention strategy for everyone.

In 2019, the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology announced these new guidelines surrounding daily low-dose aspirin (75–100 mg) and cardiovascular disease prevention:

  • Adults 71+: Not recommended
  • All adults at increased risk of bleeding: Not recommended
  • Adults 40–70 at higher risk of heart disease but not bleeding: May be considered

Read more from Fortune

  • Medical researchers baffled by Trump administration’s stop work order for clinical trial system: ‘A giant step backwards’
  • Bosses are making a major mistake that’s fueling stress at work, the CEO of Calm warns
  • Michelle Obama on a common parenting mistake that keeps kids from learning
  • 2 ways to drastically reduce your microplastics exposure
  • Why you should be walking after every meal, according to science
  •  

    The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force took things a step further in 2022, discouraging all adults 60 and older from using aspirin as the primary prevention of heart disease. (Be sure to speak with your health care provider before starting or stopping an aspirin regimen.)

    “Habits backed by conventional wisdom and the past advice of health care providers are hard to break,” APPC director Kathleen Hall Jamieson, PhD, said in a news release about the survey. “Knowing whether taking a low-dose aspirin daily is advisable or not for you is vital health information.”

    Among survey respondents with no personal or family history of stroke or heart attack, adults 60 and older (57%) were most likely to say the benefits of aspirin outweigh its risks, while those 18 to 39 were least likely (24%). Similarly, the oldest respondents were least likely (7%) to correctly say the risks overshadow the benefits, while the youngest were most likely (29%).

    Adults 60+ most likely to inadvisably take daily aspirin

    Roughly 29 million U.S. adults 40 and older—without heart disease—preventatively take aspirin. About 6.6 million of them do so without a doctor’s recommendation. That’s according to a 2019 study funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. While those estimates relied on data collected before the new guidelines had been announced, the new APPC survey suggests plenty of people not at a heightened risk of heart disease still rely on aspirin.

    About one in five of all respondents (22%) reported taking aspirin for heart health at least monthly, including 13% who said they take it “basically every day.” Among those with no history of heart disease, however, older adults were most likely to report taking aspirin at least monthly:

    • 18–39: 15%
    • 40–59: 12%
    • 60+: 26%

    About 15% of respondents who weren’t sure of their family history of heart disease reported taking aspirin at least monthly, including 9% who said they took it daily.

    For more on heart health:

    • Your resting heart rate can tell you a lot about your health. Here’s what your pulse should be at every age
    • Hypertension is a ‘silent killer.’ Here’s what your blood pressure should be at every age
    • When’s the last time you were angry? Just recalling the experience may be detrimental to your heart health, study says
    • Sugar substitute xylitol may increase your risk of heart attack and stroke, new study shows. What to know about the low-calorie sweetener
    • Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian calls this ‘the highest ROI $100 you can spend on your health.’ Here’s what to know about the calcium score test’s benefits

    Subscribe to Well Adjusted, our newsletter full of simple strategies to work smarter and live better, from the Fortune Well team. Sign up for free today.

    About the Author
    By Lindsey Leake
    LinkedIn iconTwitter icon
    See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
    Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

    Latest in Health

    Finance
    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
    By Fortune Editors
    October 20, 2025
    Finance
    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
    By Fortune Editors
    October 20, 2025
    Finance
    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
    By Fortune Editors
    October 20, 2025
    Finance
    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
    By Fortune Editors
    October 20, 2025
    Finance
    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
    By Fortune Editors
    October 20, 2025
    Finance
    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
    By Fortune Editors
    October 20, 2025

    Most Popular

    Finance
    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
    By Fortune Editors
    October 20, 2025
    Finance
    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
    By Fortune Editors
    October 20, 2025
    Finance
    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
    By Fortune Editors
    October 20, 2025
    Finance
    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
    By Fortune Editors
    October 20, 2025
    Finance
    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
    By Fortune Editors
    October 20, 2025
    Finance
    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
    By Fortune Editors
    October 20, 2025
    Fortune Secondary Logo
    Rankings
    • 100 Best Companies
    • Fortune 500
    • Global 500
    • Fortune 500 Europe
    • Most Powerful Women
    • World's Most Admired Companies
    • See All Rankings
    • Lists Calendar
    Sections
    • Finance
    • Fortune Crypto
    • Features
    • Leadership
    • Health
    • Commentary
    • Success
    • Retail
    • Mpw
    • Tech
    • Lifestyle
    • CEO Initiative
    • Asia
    • Politics
    • Conferences
    • Europe
    • Newsletters
    • Personal Finance
    • Environment
    • Magazine
    • Education
    Customer Support
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Customer Service Portal
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms Of Use
    • Single Issues For Purchase
    • International Print
    Commercial Services
    • Advertising
    • Fortune Brand Studio
    • Fortune Analytics
    • Fortune Conferences
    • Business Development
    • Group Subscriptions
    About Us
    • About Us
    • Press Center
    • Work At Fortune
    • Terms And Conditions
    • Site Map
    • About Us
    • Press Center
    • Work At Fortune
    • Terms And Conditions
    • Site Map
    • Facebook icon
    • Twitter icon
    • LinkedIn icon
    • Instagram icon
    • Pinterest icon

    Latest in Health

    UPS workers process boxes in a sorting facility.
    North AmericaUPS
    UPS is shelling out nearly $50 million on temperature-controlled facilities to meet the booming demand for GLP-1 deliveries
    By Sasha RogelbergJune 23, 2026
    15 hours ago
    dr
    HealthCancer
    The U.S. cut cancer deaths by 34% since 1991—but not in 458 rural counties
    By Arthur Cosby and The ConversationJune 23, 2026
    17 hours ago
    Woman hides from the sun in front of Big Ben in London
    EconomyEurope
    ‘London isn’t just calling—it’s cooking.’ Europe’s largest economies face over $600 billion in heat-driven losses by 2030
    By Tristan BoveJune 23, 2026
    17 hours ago
    Doctor giving patient injection in volunteer clinic
    HealthHealth
    For the first time ever, no young women in England died of cervical cancer. In the U.S., RFK Jr.’s vaccine skepticism stalls HPV progress
    By Catherina GioinoJune 23, 2026
    18 hours ago
    heat
    Environmentclimate change
    Planet’s heat bill comes due as one billion more people face extreme heat stress than in the 1970s
    By Alexa St. John and The Associated PressJune 22, 2026
    2 days ago
    A man watching a straw hat hands a woman with gray hair a hat.
    EnvironmentFrance
    Europe’s current heat wave is so bad the French are considering banning outdoor drinking and adopting AC ‘if necessary’
    By Oleg Cetinic, Angela Charlton and The Associated PressJune 22, 2026
    2 days ago

    Most Popular

    After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup
    Success
    After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup
    By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 23, 2026
    22 hours ago
    Markets tumble worldwide as Fed resets expectations: $400 billion wiped off SpaceX stock
    Banking
    Markets tumble worldwide as Fed resets expectations: $400 billion wiped off SpaceX stock
    By Jim EdwardsJune 23, 2026
    1 day ago
    Current price of oil as of June 23, 2026
    Personal Finance
    Current price of oil as of June 23, 2026
    By Joseph HostetlerJune 23, 2026
    22 hours ago
    Meet the 2 men putting New York's $300 billion pension fund in play for the first time in 20 years
    Investing
    Meet the 2 men putting New York's $300 billion pension fund in play for the first time in 20 years
    By Nick LichtenbergJune 22, 2026
    2 days ago
    Former U.S. Secret Service agent says bringing your authentic self to work stifles teamwork: 'You don’t get high performers, you get sloppiness'
    Success
    Former U.S. Secret Service agent says bringing your authentic self to work stifles teamwork: 'You don’t get high performers, you get sloppiness'
    By Sydney LakeJune 21, 2026
    3 days ago
    Texas and Charlotte used to build huge McMansions—now they're copying the California design tricks they once mocked
    Real Estate
    Texas and Charlotte used to build huge McMansions—now they're copying the California design tricks they once mocked
    By Sydney LakeJune 22, 2026
    2 days ago

    © 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
    FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.