Two steps precede a conventional heart attack. First, over many years, fatty plaques deposit in arteries on the surface of the heart to partially obstruct the flow of blood. Then a clot forms in the artery to block the flow of blood completely and cause a heart attack. Aspirin does not prevent plaques from forming, but it helps to prevent heart attacks by preventing clotting. Researchers at the National Center for Health Statistics in Hyattesville, Maryland, found that the average American takes in around 80 mg of salicylates each day from the artificial flavorings and colorings in snack foods, mouth washes and toothpastes, the same dose as you would find in one baby aspirin.
Many people take a baby aspirin every other day.
That dose prevents heart attacks. Taking doses higher than that offers no additional protection. Deaths from heart attacks have increased steadily over the last century, until about 30 years ago when they started to fall. I'm Dr. Gabe Mirkin on Fitness. Lillian Ingster of the National Center for Health Statistics in Hyattesville, Maryland presented at a conference sponsored by the American Heart Association in San Francisco on Friday, March 15, 1996.