Is aspirin best for peripheral artery disease?
Ask the doctor
What are the benefits of aspirin in people with PAD in the legs? Aspirin reduces the tendency of blood to clot. Interestingly, however, aspirin has not been shown to reduce the tendency of clots to form in the arteries of the leg, or to improve blood flow in the legs. Indeed, the main reason for aspirin treatment has nothing to do with the legs. Instead, the rationale is that people with PAD often also have atherosclerosis in the arteries of their heart and brain, but don't know it. A regular daily aspirin reduces their risk of having a heart attack or stroke. So, your doctor is not dismissing your condition by recommending a simple, over-the-counter aspirin: you're getting good advice.
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