A 65-year-old man experienced sudden vision loss due to a brain bleed, surprisingly linked to daily aspirin use. Neurologist Dr. Sudhir Kumar revealed that while aspirin was prescribed to prevent heart attack, it triggered haemorrhage. Recent research suggests aspirin's benefits are limited for those without prior heart issues, potentially causing dangerous bleeding. Dr.
Imagine being perfectly healthy, exercising daily, and keeping your blood pressure under control -- only to suddenly lose vision one day without warning. That's exactly what happened to a 65-year-old man who was rushed to the hospital after his family noticed he couldn't see properly. What doctors found shocked everyone: a brain bleed. There was no stroke, no injury, and no heart attack. The real culprit, as revealed by CMC Vellore-trained neurologist Dr. Sudhir Kumar, was a tiny pill -- aspirin.
The patient, Mr. Ramesh (name changed), had been doing well with medication for high blood pressure and showed no signs of heart disease or stroke. During a routine health check-up, he was advised to start a daily dose of aspirin "to prevent a future heart attack." Trusting the advice, he began the pill, unaware of what would happen next.
A few months later, he developed sudden vision problems. Scans revealed haemorrhage bleeding in the left parieto-occipital region of his brain. Since he had not suffered any fall, injury, or other risk factors, the most likely cause was traced back to aspirin.
According to the renowned neurologist, for decades, aspirin has been hailed as a "magic bullet" for preventing heart attacks and strokes. But recent research has shown that its benefits are limited -- and in some cases, the risks far outweigh the rewards. In people with no history of heart disease, stroke, or TIA (mini-stroke), daily aspirin may do more harm than good by increasing the chances of dangerous bleeding in the stomach or brain.
He further added that this is the reason why international guidelines now advise against prescribing aspirin routinely to healthy older adults. Instead, it should only be considered in carefully selected cases of high heart risk, and even then, only after weighing the risks and benefits with a doctor.
Dr. Sudhir Kumar stresses that real prevention comes from lifestyle and health management, not popping unnecessary pills. Steps that truly protect the heart and brain, according to him, include:
Mr. Ramesh's story is a reminder that sometimes, even a well-intended prescription can backfire if not supported by the right evidence. Prevention is powerful, but it only works when tailored to the individual -- because a pill that saves one life may put another at risk.