All You Need To Know About Aspirin:
Aspirin is also referred to as Acetylsalicylic Acid (ASA). It is the most widely used type of NSAID (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent) which helps in relieving pain, inflammation, minor aches, and fever. It also aids in blood thinning and popularly used among people who have a high risk of forming blood clots, stroke, heart attack. It is always advised that patients with chances of getting a heart attack must carry Aspirin pills along with them to prevent sudden heart attacks and clot formation.
Full Benefits of Aspirin:
1. Aspirin is the most widely used NSAID to treat mild to moderate pain, migraines, and fever.
2. It is also used in the treatment of headaches, menstrual pain, colds, flu, sprains, strains, and long term conditions such as arthritis.
3. Plain Aspirin can treat mild to moderate pain, if the pain is severe it has to be taken with other opioid analgesics or NSAIDs.
High Doses Aspirin Aids In:
3.Other inflammatory joint conditions
Surprising Benefit of Aspirin:
Many people use aspirin powder to treat pimples. To use aspirin for pimples, follow the instructions:
1. Take a few tablets of aspirin and make them into a fine powder.
2. Now mix this powder with warm water to make a fine paste.
3. Wash your face and apply this aspirin mixture directly on your pimples or you can also apply on your entire face as a facemask.
4. Let it sit on your face for 10 to 15minutes.
5. Rinse with warm water followed by your usual moisturizer.
Repeat the process once or twice a week and continue to use it until you see the results.
Low Doses Of Aspirin:
1. Prevents the formation of blood clots.
2. Reduces the risk of transient ischemic attack (TIA) and unstable angina.
3. Prevents myocardial infarction in patients with cardiovascular disease by preventing clot formation.
4. Prevents colorectal cancer.
Aspirin is generally not recommended in children under 16 years of age because it might increase the risk of Reyes’s syndrome which can appear after a virus which includes cold, flu, chickenpox; and eventually can lead to brain injury or death.
However, it may be prescribed to children under 16 years if they have Kawasaki disease and to prevent blood clot formation after surgery.
Who Should Not Take Aspirin?
Aspirin is not recommended in people who have:
2.Hemophilia or any other bleeding disorders
3.Hypersensitivity to aspirin
4.Allergic to NSAIDs
5.Risk of gastrointestinal bleeding or hemorrhagic shock
6. Drink alcohol regularly
7.Undergoing dental or surgical treatment
Caution Advised in people with the following conditions:
3.Previous peptic ulcer
Risks Associated with Aspirin:
1. It is not advised to take Aspirin all the time during a stroke because not all strokes are caused by the formation of blood clots. At times, aspirin may make the condition worse.
2. Patients who are undergoing surgical operations should inform their doctor if they are on aspirin regularly. They are advised to discontinue the use of Aspirin medication 7 days prior to surgery.
3. Pregnant and breastfeeding women may be given low-dose aspirin that is only under the supervision of their doctor. High doses are not recommended for them.
Be careful with drug-drug interactions. The most common drugs that aspirin interacts are:
1.Painkillers such as diclofenac, ibuprofen, indomethacin, and naproxen. These enhance the risk of stomach bleeding when taken in combination with Aspirin.
2. Methotrexate is a drug used in the treatment of cancer and some autoimmune diseases. When taken along with aspirin that makes the body harder to eliminate methotrexate resulting in high and potentially dangerous levels of methotrexate in the body.
3. Aspirin increases the risk of bleeding when used with citalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine, venlafaxine, and sertraline.
Above are the few drugs that interact with aspirin. Many other drugs may interact with aspirin. Therefore, always inform your doctor about your previous and current list of medicine(s)while taking aspirin.
Note: Remember to keep Aspirin tablets out of sight and reach of children.