A government task force has shown support for aspirin. The task force announced that people in their 50s and 60s can take a daily low-dose of aspirin. The daily dose of the drug could help certain people avoid stroke or first heart attack. It might protect them against colon cancer, the task force added.

The United States Preventive Services Task Force said that only some people could take daily-dose of aspirin. On Monday, task force issued some guidelines where it recommended use of aspirin only for those people who meet a strict list of criteria. As per the guidelines, people who want to take the drug should be at high risk of heart disease and low risk of bleeding side effects.

The task force made clear that the recommendations are strongest for 50-somethings, people in their 60s should consult their doctors before making their minds to take the medicine. It also said that people in their 60s should expect a smaller benefit from the daily-dose of the medicine.

According to the issued guidelines, "Potential candidates should have at least 10% risks of heart attack or stroke over the next decade, have a life expectancy of at least 10 years, and be willing to take daily aspirin that long and not have other health conditions that cause bleeding".

Dr. Douglas Owens, professor from Stanford and member of the United States Preventive Services Task Force, said that people who want to take daily-dose of aspirin should consider benefits and disadvantage of the dosage.