Can Aspirin Possibly Reduce High Blood Pressure Levels?
High blood pressure ain't no joke, mate. It's a major pain in the arse for your heart and blood vessels, increasing your chances of dealing with heart disease and strokes - the leading causes of death globally.
Now, it's only natural that folks with high blood pressure (you know, hypertension) might be searching for a miracle pill to solve their problems. So, could good ol' aspirin be the solution? Let's get the low-down from cardiologist Luke Laffin, MD.
Does aspirin lower blood pressure?
Sorry to disappoint, but it turns out that aspirin isn't the trick here. (Not the news you were hoping for, right?)
"Aspirin is nothing that has been proven to lower blood pressure," says Dr. Laffin. "People certainly want it to, but it just doesn't work that way as a medication. We don't recommend it."
There's been chatter about taking aspirin before bedtime helping out those with hypertension. Some studies even showed potential promise. But, that theory never took off, he adds.
The link between aspirin and blood pressure
So, how did aspirin earn its reputation as the blood pressure-lowering superhero? It likely grew from years of doctors prescribing daily aspirin doses following a heart attack or stroke due to its ability to prevent clots and thin the blood.
But even that advice has changed, notes Dr. Laffin. Newer research shows limited benefits (and risks) in taking a daily aspirin for heart disease. Updated guidelines from the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association now advocate for infrequent aspirin use.
"From a primary prevention perspective, aspirin is not typically recommended anymore because of risks associated with bleeding in the GI [gastrointestinal] tract," explains Dr. Laffin.
Other risks of taking aspirin
While aspirin is generally viewed as a mild NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug), it isn't without risks. Potential side effects include kidney injury, liver injury, unusual bruising or bleeding, headaches, nausea, upset stomach, and more.
Ways to lower blood pressure
If popping a pill isn't a quick fix for lowering blood pressure, what is? (Considering that 1 out of 3 people worldwide are living with high blood pressure, it's a question many people are asking.)
Dr. Laffin offers these six suggestions. They might not be as easy as taking a pill, but they can bring results.
- Lower your sodium intake: A low-sodium diet can bring an immediate and significant reduction in blood pressure. "It's one of the biggest things you can do to bring that number down," says Dr. Laffin.
- Maintain a healthy weight: Extra pounds and obesity can cause strain on your heart and damage blood vessels, leading to elevated blood pressure. Losing just a few pounds can have a big impact on your blood pressure.
- Exercise regularly: Physical activity strengthens your heart, allowing it to pump blood more efficiently and lower your blood pressure. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week.
- Eat wisely: What's on your plate can make a difference in your blood pressure. Choose foods rich in antioxidants, potassium, selenium, calcium, L-arginine, and vitamins C and E.
- Get enough sleep: Irregular sleep patterns increase the odds of high blood pressure. Regularly getting at least six to eight hours of uninterrupted sleep a night can help manage your blood pressure.
- Limit stress: Chronic stress can keep your blood pressure elevated and lead to lifestyle habits that elevate blood pressure. Try some meditation to help keep your blood pressure in check.
Final thoughts
While there are medications available to help lower blood pressure, making and sticking with healthy lifestyle choices offers you the best opportunity to keep readings at desired levels.
"High blood pressure is so multifactorial," says Dr. Laffin. "It's usually a combination of excess weight, a lack of exercise and dietary patterns, as well as genetics and age. It's not just one thing." So, don't expect one thing - like aspirin - to magically lower your blood pressure.
- The leading causes of death globally include heart disease and strokes, which are linked to high blood pressure, a major concern for heart and blood vessel health.
- Aspirin is not proven to lower blood pressure, despite its reputation as a potential solution for hypertension, according to cardiologist Luke Laffin, MD.
- Aspirin's reputation as a blood pressure-lowering superhero may have stemmed from doctors prescribing it following a heart attack or stroke due to its ability to prevent clots and thin the blood.
- Newer research shows limited benefits (and risks) in taking a daily aspirin for heart disease, and updated guidelines from the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association now advocate for infrequent aspirin use.
- If lowering blood pressure is not achievable with a pill, lifestyle changes may offer more effective solutions such as a low-sodium diet, regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, improving dietary choices, ensuring adequate sleep, and managing stress.
- Lifestyle factors, including obesity, lack of exercise, unhealthy dietary patterns, genetics, and age, contribute to high blood pressure, making it a multifactorial condition rather than one that can be solved with a single remedy like aspirin.
- Maintaining a healthy lifestyle with wholesome dietary choices, regular exercise, and sufficient sleep can provide the best opportunity to manage high blood pressure without relying solely on medical-conditions such as chronic diseases, cardiovascular-health therapies and treatments, or Medicare coverage.
