Middle-aged people should take aspirin every day to reduce their risk of heart attacks, doctors have claimed.
A study involving nearly 12,000 people found that the majority of men over the age of 48 and women over the age of 57 would benefit from taking aspirin, which thins the blood and prevents the formation of dangerous clots.
The research, which was conducted at the universities of Nottingham and Sheffield, found that 48-year-old men and 57-year-old women face a ten per cent risk of coronary heart disease within the next ten years.
They concluded that, unless a person is at high-risk of side-effects from taking aspirin, the benefits of taking aspirin outweigh the disadvantages.
Lead researcher Dr Iskandar Idris, whose findings are published in the journal Heart, told the BBC: 'The final decision about use of aspirin must eventually be made after discussion with a healthcare provider.'
However, the British Heart Foundation said that more research should be carried out before doctors start prescribing aspirin to all middle-aged people.
The charity's director of prevention and care, Dr Mike Knapton, told the BBC: 'We would encourage everyone to examine their own individual risk and take steps to reduce it by adjusting their lifestyle.'
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