Abstract
A 45-year-old man with a strong family history of premature heart disease has no symptoms of coronary disease and a normal electrocardiogram. His fasting level of total cholesterol is 225 mg per deciliter, the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level is 160 mg per deciliter, and the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level is 35 mg per deciliter. He has no history of hypertension and does not smoke cigarettes. Should he be advised to take aspirin to reduce his risk of myocardial infarction?