Use of antiplatelet medication for prevention of myocardial infarction and stroke.

Patients who suffer a heart attack can reduce the risk of another attack by 20% by taking 325 mg aspirin daily or every other day. The risk of stroke can be reduced by 50% in patients who experience atrial fibrillation or transient ischemic attacks. Although the benefit of aspirin use in women is controversial, data that suggest that women benefit as well as men are emerging. Antiplatelet drugs should be used only as adjunctive therapy and should not divert one's attention from the more important task of reducing major risk factors, such as smoking, hypertension.