Does Aspirin Lower Blood Pressure?

September 29, 2023

Does Aspirin Lower Blood Pressure?

Reducing the risk of blood clots, heart attack, and stroke are common reasons people take aspirin daily, but does aspirin lower blood pressure as well?

Understanding exactly how aspirin works can help you determine whether taking this medicine every day could benefit your overall health. Here’s more about the relationship between aspirin and blood pressure, and how to request an appointment with Healthcare Associates of Texas if you need treatment for a heart-related issue.

What Type of Drug Is Aspirin?

Aspirin is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It is commonly used to reduce mild to moderate pain, such as that being caused by headaches, toothaches, and arthritis. It may also be used to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in people who have had these conditions in the past.

Aspirin belongs to a class of drugs called salicylates. In addition to reducing pain, it also works as a blood thinner, which is why it can be used to prevent blood clots, heart attacks, and stroke.

Can Aspirin Lower Your Blood Pressure?

High blood pressure is a risk factor for most heart-related conditions, including blood clots and stroke. The blood-thinning effects of aspirin may help make the blood less sticky so that plaque deposits are less likely to stick to the walls of arteries and cause heart-related problems. However, researchers have found that aspirin may not have the ability to lower blood pressure in everyone.

Here are key findings about whether aspirin can lower blood pressure:

• When taken before bedtime, aspirin may lower blood pressure in pregnant women at risk for preeclampsia and with mild high blood pressure.
• Aspirin may not lower blood pressure in people who have had high blood pressure for a long time.
• Any NSAID—including aspirin—may increase blood pressure in people who are diagnosed with high blood pressure.

If you have high blood pressure, ask your doctor whether taking aspirin may help based on your medical history. Your doctor can talk to you in more detail about the benefits of aspirin and recommend the best treatment option.

Who Can Benefit from Taking Aspirin?

Aspirin is usually only used for a short time to treat acute pain. You may benefit from taking aspirin if you are suffering from pain conditions such as a headache, body aches, menstrual cramps, and arthritis.

Your doctor may recommend taking daily low-dose aspirin if you meet the following criteria:

• You have a history of heart attack or stroke.
• You have coronary artery disease (CAD) or peripheral artery disease (PAD).
• You are pregnant and at risk for preeclampsia.

What To Know About Taking Aspirin Daily

Before you start taking aspirin daily, here are facts you should know that can help you use this medicine safely:

• Aspirin may interact with other medicines and medications. Warfarin, dabigatran, and rivaroxaban are examples of medications that should not be used with aspirin.
• Aspirin may cause side effects. Nausea, vomiting, heartburn, and stomach pain are common side effects of aspirin.
• Some people may experience serious side effects when using aspirin. Contact your doctor right away if aspirin is causing hives, hearing loss, bloody vomit, or bloody stool.
• Stop drinking alcohol, or drink less. Your doctor can talk to you about the amount of alcohol that is safe to drink while using aspirin daily.
• Aspirin could lead to complications during surgery due to how it thins the blood. If you have an upcoming surgery, ask your doctor when you should stop taking aspirin.

How Can I Lower Blood Pressure Without Aspirin?

If aspirin isn’t the right treatment for you based on your medical history, there are plenty of other ways to reduce your blood pressure without it. Here are several ways to lower blood pressure without aspirin:

• Be more active. Exercise can naturally lower blood pressure.
• Adopt a heart-healthy diet. Avoid high amounts of salt, and eat more fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts, and seeds.
• Drink more water. Water can help prevent dehydration. Dehydration can cause sodium to build up in the bloodstream and increase your blood pressure.
• Lose excess weight if you are overweight or obese.
• Stop smoking.
• Limit the amount of alcohol you drink.
• Manage stress. Chronic stress can raise your blood pressure and increase your risk for heart attack and stroke.
• Ask your doctor about other medications that may lower blood pressure. Beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers are some of the many medications that may be used to treat high blood pressure.

If you have high blood pressure, your doctor can work closely with you to find the best treatments for you based on your condition and personal preferences.

Request an appointment with Healthcare Associates of Texas today to receive treatment for any medical issue or condition, including high blood pressure. We offer a variety of primary care services, including wellness exams, screenings, and more.

References

1. “Aspirin: MedlinePlus Drug Information.” National Library of Medicine, May 15, 2021. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682878.html.
2. “Before Using Aspirin to Lower Your Risk of Heart Attack or Stroke, What You Should Know.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, February 22, 2016. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/safe-daily-use-aspirin/using-aspirin-lower-your-risk-heart-attack-or-stroke-what-you-should-know.
3. Hermida, Ramon C., Diana E. Ayala, Carlos Calvo, and Jose E. Lopez. 2005. “Aspirin Administered at Bedtime, But Not on Awakening, Has an Effect on Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Hypertensive Patients.” Journal of the American College of Cardiology 46 (6): 975–83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2004.08.071.
4. Ayala, Diana E., Rafael Ucieda, and Ramon C. Hermida. 2012. “Chronotherapy with Low-Dose Aspirin for Prevention of Complications in Pregnancy.” Chronobiology International 30 (1–2): 260–79. https://doi.org/10.3109/07420528.2012.717455.
5. Costa, Ana Sofia, Marta Reina-Couto, António Albino-Teixeira, and Teresa Sousa. 2017. “Aspirin and Blood Pressure: Effects When Used Alone or in Combination with Antihypertensive Drugs.” Revista Portuguesa De Cardiologia 36 (7–8): 551–67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.repc.2017.05.008.
6. Aljadhey, Hisham, Wanzhu Tu, Hansen, Susan J. Blalock, D. Craig Brater, and Michael D. Murray. 2012. “Comparative Effects of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) on Blood Pressure in Patients with Hypertension.” BMC Cardiovascular Disorders 12 (1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2261-12-93.