Top of the page

Risks of taking aspirin

For people at low risk of bleeding, about 1 out of 100 will have serious bleeding in the next 10 years if they do not take aspirin. About 2 out of 100 will have serious bleeding if they do take aspirin. For people at moderate risk of bleeding, about 10 out of 100 will have serious bleeding in the next 10 years if they do not take aspirin. About 15 out of 100 will have serious bleeding if they do take aspirin. For people at high risk of bleeding, about 20 out of 100 will have serious bleeding in the next 10 years if they do not take aspirin. About 31 out of 100 will have serious bleeding if they do take aspirin.

Evidence shows that aspirin increases the chance of serious bleeding in the digestive tract.

The tables above show the number of people who will have serious bleeding in the next 10 years, arranged by level of bleeding risk.

The information shown here is based on the best available evidence.

ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Martin J. Gabica, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Michael P. Pignone, MD, MPH, FACP - Internal Medicine
Martin J. Gabica, MD - Family Medicine

Current as ofOctober 5, 2017

Current as of: October 5, 2017

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine & Martin J. Gabica, MD - Family Medicine & Michael P. Pignone, MD, MPH, FACP - Internal Medicine & Martin J. Gabica, MD - Family Medicine