Overview
- President Donald Trump said he takes a 325-milligram aspirin each day and has declined his doctors’ advice to lower the dose, according to The Wall Street Journal reporting cited by CBS News and Newsday.
- Cardiologists caution that regular-strength 325 mg aspirin is typically used for pain relief or specific cardiac indications, not routine prevention, and it raises bleeding risks.
- The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force’s 2022 guidance recommends that people 60 and older not start aspirin to prevent a first heart attack or stroke, with any low-dose use in younger adults considered case by case.
- The White House initially attributed the president’s hand bruising to frequent handshakes, while Trump later linked the bruising to his aspirin use and said he is in great health.
- Clinicians warn the public not to self-prescribe aspirin, urging consultation with a doctor and emphasizing lifestyle measures such as blood pressure control, limited salt intake, adequate sleep, and stress management.