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Aspirin for Heart Attack and Unstable Angina
How It Works
Aspirin slows the blood's clotting action by reducing the clumping of platelets. Platelets are cells that clump together and help to form blood clots. Aspirin keeps platelets from clumping together, thus helping to prevent or reduce blood clots.
During a heart attack. Blood clots form in an already-narrowed artery and block the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle. When taken during a heart attack, aspirin slows clotting and decreases the size of the blood clot that is forming.
After a heart attack. Aspirin can help prevent a second heart attack. Taken daily, aspirin's anti-clotting action helps prevent a first or second heart attack.
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: May 14, 2012 |
| Medical Review: | Reference Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Reference E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Reference Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology |
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