Aspirin vs Stroke

Because aspirin can cause bleeding, it is typically avoided by people who have had a hemorrhagic stroke, which occurs when a blood vessel bursts in the brain.

New finding: In a study of 207 hemorrhagic stroke survivors, those who took an antiplatelet drug, such as aspirin, were not at increased risk for another hemorrhage.

Implication: Aspirin therapy may be appropriate for hemorrhagic stroke survivors who are at high risk for heart attack or ischemic stroke, in which a blood clot blocks the blood flow to the brain.