Aspirin is more than a simple anti-inflammatory, fever or pain reliever. However, to give a better overview of aspirin it is appropriate to introduce this topic by giving scientific explanation of what aspirin really is.
Aspirin forms part of so-called NSAIDs, an abbreviation for nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. There exist many other NSAIDs such as naproxen (Aleve) and ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) and they are widely used to treat pain, fever and inflammatory conditions often related to arthritis, bursitis and/or tendonitis. The chemical abbreviation for Aspirin is ASA derived from its chemical name; acetyl salicylic acid
However, it has been shown that aspirin has many other benefits to health. For instance, aspirin possesses vital blocking effects on platelets found in the blood. The inhibitory or rather anti-platelet effect avoids blood clot to be developed in arteries. This is thus an important attribute for people who suffer from atherosclerosis (blood vessels narrowing) or people who are prone to blood clotting in the blood vessels.
Information about the benefit of Aspirin
1. Patients who have suffered from heart attack or stroke might be prescribed with aspirin. It will avoid clotting the blood vessel and thereby reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, based on facts from NHS Direct.
2. Aspirin can also reduce the risk of breast cancer developed from oestrogen, this was identified by a research team from National Cancer Institute in the United State. However, NHS considered that it is too early to be sure that aspirin will for sure prevent cancerous disease such as breast cancer.
3. It has also been found according to a Women’s Health Study in America that consuming a small dose of aspirin can put off asthma. In the research that was carried out under a period of ten years it only 4.7 % of the group suffered from asthma whereas 5.2 percent given a placebo became asthmatic.
4. The Oxford University identified that for 13,356 patients, aspirin had the positive effect of decreasing deep vein thrombosis by as much as one-third.
5. The charity of Diabetes UK, support the fact that people aged above 50 having diabetes could take aspirin to reduce the risk of heart disease.
6. Professor James Crabbe from Reading University says that aspirin can decrease the risk of cataract. It has been found that the drug helps to eliminate the effect of proteins causing cataract.
7. There has been some evidence found that a low dose of heparin and aspirin can decrease the risk of pregnancy miscarriage especially for those who suffer from continuous miscarriages. This was found by Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
Aspirin has its darker side as well. It has been shown that aspirin can lead to irritation for the stomach and augments the possible risk of ulceration and bleeding.
Aspirin has many positive effects but it is certainly not recommend for everyone.
Source: Telegraphy.co.uk and Medicinenet
Mon, Mar 1, 2010
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