Never one to do things by halves, the US president, Donald Trump, recently offered up a lengthy insight into his health to The Wall Street Journal, where he revealed he takes a daily dose of 325mg of aspirin, which is a higher one than his doctors would like. (According to the NHS, the usual daily dose to prevent a heart attack or stroke is 75mg.)

“They’d rather have me take the smaller one [dose],” said Trump, who turns 80 this year and last year was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, where your veins have trouble moving blood to your heart. “They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood and I don’t want thick blood pouring through my heart. I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart.”

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He’s also told New York Magazine that his high dose “works for me. I’ve been doing it for 30 years, and I don’t want to change.”

Colin Berry is a professor of cardiology and imaging at the University of Glasgow and served as director of the British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence until 2024. “The prescriber [of Trump’s dose] is entitled to their view,” he says. “Whether it’s the president of the United States or anyone else, who am I to provide judgment?”

What are the benefits of aspirin?

Berry says that there have been well-established studies that show a daily dose of aspirin can help to prevent heart attacks and stroke. “And, secondly, there is a growing body of evidence that indicates aspirin may prevent cancer and prevent the reoccurrence of cancer. The anticancer action of aspirin is something we’re beginning to understand.”

A 2021 study from researchers at Cardiff University found that taking aspirin alongside cancer treatments could cut a patient’s risk of dying by 20 per cent, as well as helping to reduce the risk of cancer spreading. Professor Peter Elwood, who led the research, said he was “struck by the actions of aspirin on the biological mechanisms relevant to cancer”. While in 2024 researchers at the University of Southampton found that taking regular aspirin can reduce the risk of developing pancreatic cancer by 20 per cent, and 40 per cent for those with diabetes (according to Cancer Research UK, those with type 2 diabetes are about twice as likely to develop it).

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How does aspirin protect your heart?

Originally designed to treat pain and fever, aspirin is now commonly used to protect people who are at risk of heart attack or stroke. Berry says it reduces the “stickiness” of platelets in our blood, which can help to prevent them from clotting or blocking arteries. It’s also used by those who have existing heart conditions or who have had a stent inserted.

So, should we take it every day?

“My overall message is only take an aspirin every day if you’re directed to by your doctor,” says Berry, who advises against self-medicating or taking it because you’ve always done so. “Never take a daily dose without being told by your doctor, who will check in regularly with regards to the dose. In the UK the standard daily dose is 75mg, whereas 325mg is a historical dose. The evidence has moved on. If you’ve been taking aspirin for 30 years without medical involvement, you may not realise the recommended dose is now 75mg and that a higher dose is associated with higher risks.”

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What are the risks of daily aspirin?

The risk of low-dose daily aspirin for most is small. Common side-effects include indigestion, an increased risk of bleeding, including stomach and intestinal bleeding or cuts that take longer to heal. “A higher dose is often associated with an increased risk of bleeding,” Berry says. “Daily aspirin can also lead to ulcers and if you have an existing ulcer even short-term use can make it worse.”

Another side-effect is bruising. It was a large bruise on Trump’s left hand that prompted recent questions about his health. He told reporters the bruise was a result of hitting his hand on a table. “I would say take aspirin if you like your heart. But don’t take aspirin if you don’t want to have a little bruising,” he explained. “I take the big aspirin. And when you take the big aspirin, they tell you you’ll bruise.”

However, side-effects must always be weighed up against the benefits, Berry says. “The considerations of those prescribing it centres around the benefits and potential risks. This is an entirely individualised consideration, which takes into account a person’s age and overall health. We’re less clear about the differences between the sexes, but I suspect there may be a few.”

Are there any viable alternatives to aspirin?

“Clopidogrel,” Berry says. Research from Imperial College London that was published in the Lancet last year found that switching from aspirin to clopidogrel may reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke by an extra 14 per cent. “Clopidogrel may prolong life compared to aspirin, especially in relation to heart attacks and stroke,” Berry says.