An aspirin a day
Published:Wednesday | December 7, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Aspirin is an absolute wonder drug. From pain to heart disease to skin problems and now Alzheimer's and some cancers, aspirin has some benefit. It is used to ease pain - migraine, arthritis, sore throat, toothaches, menstruation - swelling and inflammation and if that isn't enough it's useful in preventing heart attacks and strokes. Plus, it is old - tried, tested and proven.
How does it reduce pain and swelling? A chemical called cyclo-oxygenase (COX) helps produce hormones called prostaglandins. Prostaglandins help us experience pain, fever, inflammation. Aspirin blocks COX production, which decreases production of prostaglandins. No COX, no prostaglandins, no pain. Doses of 275mg-300mg, two to three times daily, are recommended.
How does aspirin work on fever? It makes blood vessels in the skin open, allowing heat to leave the body faster.
A blood clot which forms inside a major blood vessel can cause heart attack or stroke when it blocks blood flow. Persons at risk of having a heart attack or stroke, or who have had those events, have aspirin prescribed (75mg daily). It makes blood thin (prevents it from clotting as much as usual) which helps keep it flowing.
Older folk with diabetes who have another risk factor for heart disease are prescribed aspirin.
Versatile aspirin
Remember, anyone with an aspirin allergy shouldn't use aspirin, even externally. It's not given to children under 16, pregnant or breastfeeding women or persons with stomach problems.
Itchy scalp caused by dandruff has been treated with aspirin dissolved in water and mixed with shampoo. Aspirin may soothe insect bites and shrink blemishes when mixed in a paste. It's easier to remove corns and calluses after they've been treated daily with a paste of aspirin and water.
Several research studies have shown that taking aspirin long term is linked to overall reduction in the risk of several forms of cancer. The same link is reported for some forms of dementia. The effect seems to take at least five years to become apparent.
The down-side of aspirin
As with all medications, always consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking or using aspirin. It carries serious possible side effects. Doctors prescribe aspirin for long-term use, when benefits of using it outweigh risks of side effects.
Although clotting is great if we're bleeding, aspirin helps prevent blood from clotting. So if we're on aspirin, our blood takes longer to clot (longer bleeding time) when we get cut. So we have to stop taking aspirin a few days before surgery or dental procedures.
Prostaglandins, hormones which trigger inflammation, pain and fever, also protect the lining of the stomach from damage by stomach acid. So with long-term aspirin use, stomach protection is less, hence possible side effects of stomach irritation, ulcers and bleeding. Dark stools may indicate stomach bleeding.
Some people are allergic to aspirin - allergy will appear as difficulty breathing, rash, itching and fainting soon after taking aspirin. If aspirin has a strong, vinegar-like odour it is spoilt.
Dr Dahlia McDaniel is a pharmacist with a doctorate in public health. She is the chief executive officer of two pharmacies and a medical practice in Kingston; email:yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.