Health and Me

Itisha Arya

Can Taking Too Much Aspirin Really Cause Hand Bruises, As Donald Trump Claims?

aspirin donald trump

President Donald Trump has said he takes a daily <span>aspirin</span> dose that is higher than what his doctors advise and has done so for the past 25 years. He made the remarks during a wide-ranging interview with The Wall Street Journal, published on Thursday.

“They tell me aspirin helps thin the blood, and I don’t want thick blood moving through my heart,” Trump, 79, told the newspaper. “I want thin blood flowing through my heart. That sounds right, doesn’t it?”

The president takes 325 milligrams of aspirin every day, which equals one standard adult over-the-counter tablet. This amount is four times higher than the commonly recommended 81 milligram low-dose aspirin often used to help prevent heart disease.

<h2>Can Taking Too Much Aspirin Really Cause Hand Bruises?</h2>

As per NPR News, since 2022, the US Preventive Services Task Force, the country’s leading panel on disease prevention, has advised that adults over 60 should not begin taking daily aspirin to prevent heart disease if they do not already have an underlying condition. The panel also said it is reasonable for people who are already on preventive aspirin to consider stopping around the age of 75.

<h2>What Is Aspirin, And What Is It Used For?</h2>

Aspirin belongs to the same group of drugs as ibuprofen and naproxen. At low doses, it reduces the production of a substance that helps blood clots form. The medication is widely used to treat headaches and other pain in adults. It is also taken preventively, as Trump does, by roughly one in seven older Americans.

Specialists generally recommend 81 milligrams of aspirin per day for people who need it to lower their risk of heart disease. This dose was once referred to as “baby aspirin,” though aspirin is no longer advised for regular use in children. Doctors favor the lower dose rather than Trump’s 325 milligrams because studies show there is no added benefit from taking more. A large study published in 2021 supported this conclusion.

“There is some evidence that if someone has already tolerated 325 milligrams for years, the extra risk compared to 81 milligrams is probably quite small,” says Dr Eleanor Levin, a preventive cardiologist at Stanford Medicine. “But the higher dose really isn’t necessary.”

Some people are advised to stay on low-dose aspirin for life, regardless of age. This includes patients who have had bypass surgery or a heart attack. Levin also recommends aspirin for certain people with silent coronary artery disease, where arteries are narrowed without obvious symptoms.

Trump was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency in July. A memo released by the White House in December stated that his cardiovascular system remains in “excellent health.”

Although aspirin is considered safer than many other blood thinners, it still raises the risk of bleeding in the stomach and brain, even at low doses. These complications are uncommon and rarely fatal.

The risk of bleeding increases with age, and alcohol can raise it further. Aspirin can also cause milder bleeding issues, such as easy bruising or small cuts. Trump has experienced both, and his doctor linked these symptoms to aspirin use, according to a White House memo released in July. Levin says this is not unusual or alarming.

“This actually shows the drug is doing what it’s supposed to do,” Levin says. “As people reach their late 70s and 80s, the skin becomes thinner and more fragile. Patients often come in with bruises on their arms and don’t recall bumping into anything.”

During the Journal interview, Trump also addressed questions about his hearing and sleep, which he largely brushed off. While hearing loss becomes more common with age, aspirin can sometimes cause ringing in the ears, known as tinnitus. Its effect on sleep is less clear.

Levin says Trump’s long-term use of a higher aspirin dose is unlikely to be life-threatening, though she does not advise most patients to take more than recommended. She explains that doses above 2,400 milligrams, once used to treat arthritis, are considered high-dose aspirin and carry much greater risks.

“I’m sure his doctors have told him that,” Levin says. “There’s no need to panic.” She says her own approach is different. “We talk through the risks and benefits. We look at the evidence and the research, and my patients follow that guidance.”

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President Donald Trump has said he takes a daily aspirin dose that is higher than what his doctors advise and has done so for the past 25 years. He made the remarks during a wide-ranging interview with The Wall Street Journal, published on Thursday.“They tell me aspirin helps thin the blood, and I don’t want thick blood moving through my heart,” Trump, 79, told the newspaper. “I want thin blood flowing through my heart. That sounds right, doesn’t it?”The president takes 325 milligrams of aspirin every day, which equals one standard adult over-the-counter tablet. This amount is four times higher than the commonly recommended 81 milligram low-dose aspirin often used to help prevent heart disease.Can Taking Too Much Aspirin Really Cause Hand Bruises?As per NPR News, since 2022, the US Preventive Services Task Force, the country’s leading panel on disease prevention, has advised that adults over 60 should not begin taking daily aspirin to prevent heart disease if they do not already have an underlying condition. The panel also said it is reasonable for people who are already on preventive aspirin to consider stopping around the age of 75.What Is Aspirin, And What Is It Used For?Aspirin belongs to the same group of drugs as ibuprofen and naproxen. At low doses, it reduces the production of a substance that helps blood clots form. The medication is widely used to treat headaches and other pain in adults. It is also taken preventively, as Trump does, by roughly one in seven older Americans.Ideal Dose For AspirinSpecialists generally recommend 81 milligrams of aspirin per day for people who need it to lower their risk of heart disease. This dose was once referred to as “baby aspirin,” though aspirin is no longer advised for regular use in children. Doctors favor the lower dose rather than Trump’s 325 milligrams because studies show there is no added benefit from taking more. A large study published in 2021 supported this conclusion.“There is some evidence that if someone has already tolerated 325 milligrams for years, the extra risk compared to 81 milligrams is probably quite small,” says Dr Eleanor Levin, a preventive cardiologist at Stanford Medicine. “But the higher dose really isn’t necessary.”Some people are advised to stay on low-dose aspirin for life, regardless of age. This includes patients who have had bypass surgery or a heart attack. Levin also recommends aspirin for certain people with silent coronary artery disease, where arteries are narrowed without obvious symptoms.Trump was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency in July. A memo released by the White House in December stated that his cardiovascular system remains in “excellent health.”Common Side Effects Of AspirinAlthough aspirin is considered safer than many other blood thinners, it still raises the risk of bleeding in the stomach and brain, even at low doses. These complications are uncommon and rarely fatal.The risk of bleeding increases with age, and alcohol can raise it further. Aspirin can also cause milder bleeding issues, such as easy bruising or small cuts. Trump has experienced both, and his doctor linked these symptoms to aspirin use, according to a White House memo released in July. Levin says this is not unusual or alarming.“This actually shows the drug is doing what it’s supposed to do,” Levin says. “As people reach their late 70s and 80s, the skin becomes thinner and more fragile. Patients often come in with bruises on their arms and don’t recall bumping into anything.”During the Journal interview, Trump also addressed questions about his hearing and sleep, which he largely brushed off. While hearing loss becomes more common with age, aspirin can sometimes cause ringing in the ears, known as tinnitus. Its effect on sleep is less clear.Is Taking Aspirin Dangerous?Levin says Trump’s long-term use of a higher aspirin dose is unlikely to be life-threatening, though she does not advise most patients to take more than recommended. She explains that doses above 2,400 milligrams, once used to treat arthritis, are considered high-dose aspirin and carry much greater risks.“I’m sure his doctors have told him that,” Levin says. “There’s no need to panic.” She says her own approach is different. “We talk through the risks and benefits. We look at the evidence and the research, and my patients follow that guidance.”