If you're taking aspirin daily to improve your cardiovascular health, your gender may alter the benefit somewhat.

Aspirin therapy reduced stroke risk in women and heart attack risk in men in a recent study, but there was no vice versa effect. Aspirin therapy had no significant effect on heart attack risk in women or on stroke risk in men. Follow your doctor's advice regarding aspirin therapy and protecting yourself from cardiovascular events.

Many people take low-dose aspirin daily for its blood-thinning effects, which may in turn help reduce the incidence of heart attack and stroke. Now, new research suggests that aspirin's benefits may differ according to gender. In a study evaluating the impact of aspirin on cardiovascular risk, men on aspirin therapy were 32 percent less likely to suffer a heart attack than men not taking the medication. However, men did not gain stroke-reduction benefits. Conversely, women who took aspirin regularly were 17 percent less likely to have a stroke than non-takers, but the effect of aspirin therapy on their heart attack risk was insignificant. Keep in mind that although aspirin has many clear benefits, its use carries a risk of side effects as well. Potential risks of aspirin use include ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding. Do not begin aspirin therapy without consulting your healthcare provider. In the meantime, eat a healthful diet and exercise regularly to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease. If you take aspirin daily under doctor direction, do not change your medication routine without consulting your healthcare provider first.

Aspirin for the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Events in Women and Men: A Sex-Specific Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Berger, J. S., Roncaglioni, M. C., Avanzini, F., Pangrazzi, I., Tognoni, G., Brown, D. L., The Journal of the American Medical Association 2006 Jan 18;295(3):306-313.