Can taking an aspirin a day reduce the risk of heart disease but increase the risk of other disorders?

Yes, indeedy: Aspirin prolongs bleeding time by impairing platelet aggregation. As such, it reduces the risk of heart attack and clot-type stroke but increases the risk of bleeding elsewhere. Since it also is irritating to the lining of the stomach, gastrointestinal bleeding is a risk. Finally, many studies have shown a small but real risk of hemorrhagic (bleeding) stroke especially in hypertensives and women.

Noooo: Asa is very benign drug. I take it myself and many other mds i know do too. Unless you have bleeding or stomach problems.