Aspirin, also known as
acetylsalicylic acid (
ASA), is a
medication, often used to treat
pain,
fever, and
inflammation. Aspirin is also used long-term, at low doses, to help prevent
heart attacks,
strokes, and
blood clot formation in people at high risk of developing blood clots. Low doses of aspirin may be given immediately after a heart attack to reduce the risk of another heart attack or the death of heart tissue. Aspirin may be effective at preventing certain types of cancer, particularly
colorectal cancer.