An old, inexpensive medicine that makes blood platelets less likely to clot. In people with existing heart or artery disease it clearly prevents repeat events; in otherwise healthy adults the small heart benefit is closely matched, sometimes outweighed, by serious bleeding, worsening with age. Its long-term cancer-prevention promise is real in some groups, genuinely uncertain in others. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Hemoglobin (Hb) | Men 14–15 g/dL; Women 13–14 g/dL | Detects blood loss from the digestive tract |
| Ferritin | 50–150 ng/mL | Iron stores; earliest marker of chronic occult blood loss |
| Platelet count | 150–400 ×10⁹/L | Confirms adequate clotting capacity before and during therapy |
| eGFR | >90 mL/min/1.73m² | Kidney function, which aspirin can reduce via lowered renal blood flow |
| Fecal occult blood | Negative | Screens for hidden gastrointestinal blood loss |
| Blood pressure | <120/80 mmHg | Elevated pressure raises the risk of bleeding into the brain |
| hs-CRP | <1.0 mg/L | Provides baseline inflammatory and cardiovascular-risk context |
Cadence: Baseline assessment before starting; review at 4–12 weeks, then a complete blood count and clinical check every 6–12 months