Heart healthMedicationsGeneral wellness

Surprising reasons to take aspirin—and when to skip it

From boosting your beauty regimen to helping you live longer, aspirin's a versatile little pill. But it's important to know its potential side effects.

LearnBeautySurprising reasons to take aspirin—and when to skip it
Talk to your provider first
Who should avoid aspirin?
Side effects to know about
It can help you survive a heart attack
It can help you recover after surgery
Other surprising ways aspirin can help
Can it cure a hangover?

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You may know that the occasional aspirin can reduce a fever or soothe a headache. But you might not know just how versatile—and lifesaving—this little pill can be. Here are some surprising uses for the medicine cabinet staple, plus information on when to consider a daily aspirin regimen and when to skip it altogether.

Sources: Mayo Clinic. Daily aspirin therapy: Unde... + 11
  1. Mayo Clinic. Daily aspirin therapy: Understand the benefits and risks. September 27, 2025.
  2. National Health Service (UK). Taking low-dose aspirin with other medicines and herbal supplements. December 16, 2024.
  3. DailyMed. Aspirin 81 – aspirin tablet. Accessed March 27, 2026.
  4. MedlinePlus. Aspirin. November 15, 2025.
  5. US Preventive Services Task Force. Aspirin Use to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease: Preventive Medication. April 26, 2022.
  6. American Heart Association. Aspirin and Dual Antiplatelet Therapy.
  7. February 28, 2025.
  8. American Heart Association/American Red Cross. Part 8: First Aid: Chest Pain. Accessed August 11, 2023.
  9. American Stroke Association. Aspirin and Stroke. Last reviewed April 15, 2024.
  10. National Health Service (UK). Recovery: Coronary angioplasty and stent insertion. October 2025.
  11. Carron M, Tamburini E, et al. Aspirin for the extended prevention of venous thromboembolism: a meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis. Sci Rep. 2025 May 17;15(1):17213.
  12. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Hangovers. December 2025.
Written by Rose Hayes, MA, RN.
Medically reviewed by Megan Burke, MD.January, 2026
Updated onAugust, 2026
Written by Rose Hayes, MA, RN.
Medically reviewed by Megan Burke, MD.January, 2026
Updated onAugust, 2026
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