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.
Jan, 2026
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Most people 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.
Written byRose Hayes, MA, RN.
Medically reviewed byAnn Wendling, MD, MPH.
Sources: National Health Service (UK). Taking low-dose aspirin with other medicines and herbal supplements. Last reviewed December 16 + 12
- National Health Service (UK). Taking low-dose aspirin with other medicines and herbal supplements. Last reviewed December 16, 2021.
- Rothwell PM, Price JF, Fowkes FGR, et al. Short-term effects of daily aspirin on cancer incidence, mortality, and non-vascular death: analysis of the time course of risks and benefits in 51 randomised controlled trials. Lancet. 2012;379(9826):1602-1612.
- Cuzick J, Otto F, Baron JA, et al. Aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for cancer prevention: an international consensus statement. Lancet Oncol. 2009;10(5):501-507.
- Guirguis-Blake JM, Evans CV, Perdue LA, Bean SI, Senger CA. Aspirin Use to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease and Colorectal Cancer: Updated Evidence Report and Systematic Review for the US Preventive Services Task Force. JAMA. 2022;327(16):1585–1597.
- Jayaprakash V, Menezes RJ, Javle MM, et al. Regular aspirin use and esophageal cancer risk. Int J Cancer. 2006;119(1):202-207.
- Loomans-Kropp HA, Pinsky P, Umar A. Evaluation of aspirin use with cancer incidence and survival among older adults in the prostate, lung, colorectal, and ovarian cancer screening trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2021;4(1):e2032072.
- Loomans-Kropp HA, Pinsky P, Cao Y, Chan AT, Umar A. Association of aspirin use with mortality risk among older adult participants in the prostate, lung, colorectal, and ovarian cancer screening trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2019;2(12):e1916729.
- National Cancer Institute. Can Taking Aspirin Help Prevent Cancer? Updated October 7, 2020.
- US Preventive Services Task Force. Aspirin Use to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. JAMA. 2022;327(16):1577–1584.
- American Heart Association. Aspirin and Heart Disease. Last reviewed March 20, 2019.
- Harvard Health Publishing. Aspirin for heart attack: Chew or swallow? April 14, 2020.
- American Heart Association/American Red Cross. Part 8: First Aid: Chest Pain. Accessed August 11, 2023.
- American Stroke Association. Aspirin and Stroke. Last reviewed April 22, 2020.
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