It turns out that daily low-dose Aspirin, the drug that’s long been believed to prevent heart attacks and strokes is no longer being recommended by doctors

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force changed its guidance, advising adults in their 40s and 50s not to take aspirin as a preventive measure unless they are at a high risk of heart disease and aren’t at a significant risk of bleeding.

Other excluded groups include people aged 60 and over.

Earlier guidance endorsed daily low-dose aspirin for people over 50 who were at higher risk for heart attacks or strokes in the next decade and who weren’t at higher risk for bleeding. 

The updated regulations don’t apply to those who have previously had heart attacks or strokes and they are still advised to take aspirin preventively.

A cardiology doctors says aspirin remains to be a “very important medication” for this group.