Patients suffering from high blood pressure are sometimes advised by physicians to take a daily dose of aspirin. But do aspirin and high blood pressure really have a connection considering that the drug is marketed for other, less serious, ailments such as minor body pains and fever?

The study on this relationship was tested on patients with mild hypertension. More severe high blood pressure conditions require prescription medications. As a chemical under the category of "salicylate", aspirin is commonly used as a medication to treat mild fevers and as a pain killer. Among the many properties of aspirin is its ability to inhibit the oration of prostaglandins in the body. Prostaglandins promote blood clotting by causing the blood cells to stick together; thus, in the case of high blood pressure, which is also a risk for heart attack (which is in turn directly caused by blood clots in the vessels), aspirin helps.

Despite the obvious benefits of taking aspirin as a way to manage the effects of hypertension, one should still consult a physician before taking the medication. It is important to take any kind of drug in the right dosage and in the right time intervals for your own safety. Aspirin is an over the counter drug, and is relative cheap and widely available. Even though it is a commonly used drug, aspirin is not without side effects. Intestinal and stomach bleeding are just some of the possible side effects of taking aspirin incorrectly. It also may not be compatible with certain individuals, possibly due to a physiological characteristics or if the person is taking other medications that do not work well with aspirin. Generally, aspirin has shown beneficial effects on people with cardiovascular ailments. However, because it increases the potential for bleeding, those who have blood disorders or any other type of abnormal bleeding should not readily take aspirin. Also, you should check if you have allergies against this drug or other similar chemical formulations. It has been reported that people with kidney disease, asthma, gout, or ulcer should also avoid aspirin. Long term use of aspirin should also be monitored to watch for potentially dangerous side effects.

In terms of its use as a preventative medication against stroke, it is important to know that it is only effective against ischemic stroke that results from blockage of blood flow to the brain, possibly due to blot clots. The other type of stroke is the hemorrhagic stroke, which is caused by bleeding and bursting of blood vessels, cannot be prevented by aspirin. However, it has been reported that four out of five strokes are ischemic. Aspirin thus far is the only over the counter drug that has been promoted to prevent heart attack and stroke. However, before starting on an aspirin regimen, for prevention of cardiovascular diseases, consult with your doctor first.