President Donald Trump has reiterated his commitment to a daily aspirin regimen. Speaking to reporters, he stated his continued use despite uncertainty about its benefits. ‘I take an aspirin a day. I don’t know if it works, but psychologically, I need it,’ Trump shared. ‘I don’t know if it works or not, but I’ve been doing it for a long time, and here I am.’
Trump’s History with Aspirin
Trump, who is 80 years old, has publicly discussed his aspirin use over the past year. In a Wall Street Journal interview, he and his doctors confirmed he takes a full 325-milligram aspirin daily. This exceeds the 81-milligram dose typically recommended for some heart patients. In the January interview, Trump explained, ‘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.’
Despite recommendations for a lower dose, Trump continues his regimen due to long-standing habits and superstition. He has linked aspirin to bruising on his hands, admitting to using makeup as cover. ‘I have makeup that’s easy to put on, takes about 10 seconds,’ he noted.
Medical Perspective
Dr. Sean Barbabella, Trump’s physician, confirmed that Trump takes 325 milligrams of aspirin daily for ‘cardiac prevention.’ The White House attributes his hand bruising to frequent handshaking and his aspirin regimen, classified as part of a cardiovascular prevention strategy. Barbabella reports that Trump’s physical health is robust, noting excellent metabolic and cardiovascular health for his age.
Expert Opinions on Daily Aspirin
Aspirin can thin the blood and lower the ability of platelets to form clots, potentially preventing heart attacks and strokes. However, it also raises bleeding risks.
Guidelines have shifted away from universally recommending daily aspirin for older adults without cardiovascular disease. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force advises against it for those 60 and older, where bleeding risks may outweigh benefits. The Mayo Clinic also points out that while aspirin is effective for secondary prevention in patients with previous heart attacks or strokes, its role in primary prevention is debated.
Why Trump’s Aspirin Use Matters
Given Trump’s age and status as the oldest inaugurated U.S. president, his health garners significant attention. His aspirin regimen highlights the nuanced nature of preventive health measures. Aspirin isn’t universally suitable; dosage and necessity should be tailored to individual health profiles, considering medical history, cardiovascular risks, and bleeding risks.
Newsweek has reached out to the White House for further comments.
This story was produced with Martyn, Newsweek’s AI assistant. Contact editors Tobias Meyjes and Cristina Diciu for more details.