Many people periodically suffer from headaches and fever, which can be caused by colds. Acetylsalicylic acid, or just aspirin, is suitable for alleviating people's suffering. This medicine is successfully sold in every pharmacy in our country. As a rule, it is used without a doctor's prescription to anesthetize and lower body temperature. In this regard, people should know the benefits and possible harm from the use of aspirin.
Drug appearance
According to one version, acetylsalicylic acid and its miraculous properties were discovered by the English priest E. Stone in the mid-18th century. To remove the patient from a febrile state, the man used infusion from willow bark.
Scientists began researching willow bark after half a century. It was then that a pharmacist from France, I. Leroux, isolated an active substance from a tree bark, which was subsequently called salicin. A few years later, chemist C. Levig from salicin received acid, which was nicknamed salicylic. Soon, scientists found that this substance is found not only in willow, but also in other plants, for example, oranges, olives, plums, and others.
What you need to know about the drug
Due to its composition, acetylsalicylic acid belongs to salicylates in its chemical structure. It is a non-steroidal drug with anti-inflammatory effect. The drug is able to block the formation of certain substances during the onset of inflammatory processes. Acid is also taken to combat increased thrombosis.
If aspirin is taken according to the manufacturer’s instructions, it will not cause serious harm to the body, even if individual intolerance to the drug is detected.
When to take Aspirin
Many people wonder: what helps acetylsalicylic acid? The main indication for its use is pain of any origin. The drug even copes with pain in the joints, which are resistant to many analgesics.
Aspirin is also used to lower body temperature during an infectious disease. It effectively and quickly fights heat.
Some mothers are interested in the question: is it possible for children to acetylsalicylic acid? Taking this medicine is strictly prohibited for young children, as it can cause Reye's syndrome. Is it possible to take a remedy for expectant mothers? The use of acetylsalicylic acid during pregnancy is also strictly prohibited.
If you took too much
Sick people should carefully monitor the dosage of acetylsalicylic acid. A strong overdose of this antipyretic can lead to symptoms similar to acute poisoning. Understand that the patient has an overdose, according to the following signs:
- Impaired consciousness, depressed state.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- A sharp drop in blood pressure to a critical level.
- The occurrence of shortness of breath and hypoxia.
- Poor blood clotting, which can subsequently lead to internal bleeding.
An overdose of aspirin occurs, as a rule, during a single dose of a large number of doses of the drug. A dosage of acetylsalicylic acid, equal to 500 mg per 1 kg of a person’s weight, drunk at a time, can lead to complications and even death. The same dosage of the drug can lead to severe poisoning if you drink it during the day.
Chronic drug poisoning
If you use aspirin for a long time, there is a greater likelihood of developing chronic poisoning. This phenomenon occurs if the patient neglects the advice of a doctor, does not pay attention to the instructions for the use of the drug, taking aspirin daily as a therapy for an inflammatory disease. Chronic poisoning can be detected by the following signs:
- Digestion, lack of appetite, nausea.
- Hearing impairment, which progresses over time. The rate of development of this disease depends on the doses of the drug.
- Constant noise in the organs of hearing.
During chronic poisoning, the onset and gradual increase of the above symptoms is characteristic.
What is Reye's Syndrome
If you follow the instructions, acetylsalicylic acid tablets will not be able to cause direct harm to children, however, there is a risk of serious complications resulting from the appointment of such a medicine. It is called Reye's syndrome. Typically, such a disease occurs with an overdose of aspirin against a viral infection in a young child. Signs of the syndrome:
- Severe vomiting.
- The occurrence of neuralgia.
- Depressed state.
- Coma.
- Drop in blood pressure.
- Shortness of breath, shortness of breath, feeling of suffocation.
- Impairment of consciousness as a result of brain damage, fainting, convulsions.
- Damage to the liver.
First aid for complications
If symptoms of an overdose of a drug are identified, a number of simple measures should be taken immediately to save the life and health of the victim, namely:
- Gastric lavage until clear water appears. Thanks to this procedure, most of the acetylsalicylic acid, which did not have time to dissolve and enter the bloodstream, is excreted from the body. For washing, it is necessary to force a person to drink about 1.5 liters of clean drinking water, and then proceed to provoke vomiting. You can do this by pressing two fingers on the root of the tongue.
- After washing, it is mandatory to take the recommended dose of absorbents for acute poisoning. Such funds help to remove aspirin from the stomach and intestines, preventing its subsequent absorption into the body.
- After this, you must contact the medical institution, while explaining what caused the poisoning.
When the patient is handed over to doctors, they will receive specialized care using intravenous infusions.
To prevent overdose of drugs, their intake should be controlled, always be guided by the appointment of doctors. Before taking any drug, carefully read the instructions. It is also important to keep all medicines out of the reach of children. Preventing severe poisoning is always easier than treating it.
Blood thinning
Many people wonder: what helps acetylsalicylic acid in addition to reducing heat? In people with pathologies of the heart and blood vessels, coagulation disorders in the body are often found. Blood thickens and becomes viscous, which will certainly increase the risk of thrombosis.
In this case, it is necessary to take aspirin, which is simply indispensable for thinning the blood in the human body. This tool is able to affect platelets. The drug blocks the receptors located on their surface, which are responsible for the synthesis of a protein called thromboxane A2. Due to its composition, acetylsalicylic acid, entering the body, affects the ability of platelets to stick together, as well as attach to the vascular wall.
Blocking receptors is irreversible, even with a single dose of aspirin, the synthesis of thromboxane A2 is disrupted for several days until the platelets are updated.
People with heart disease often wonder: how to take acetylsalicylic acid? Since the bone marrow constantly launches new blood cells into the vessels that affect coagulation, aspirin should be taken every day. It is important to observe the dosage of the drug. If you take the drug in large doses, the desired effect will not be, but side effects are manifested.
What affects the blood condition
In a healthy person, blood is 90% water. The remaining 10% includes platelets, fats, white blood cells, enzymes, red blood cells, various acids, and more. In connection with age, a sedentary lifestyle, during chronic diseases, the composition of human blood changes significantly. The amount of water in the body decreases, instead of it, the bone marrow produces platelets, as a result of which the blood in the vessels thickens.
Platelets are necessary to stop bleeding in cuts and wounds, they are responsible for blood coagulation. When there are too many of these substances, blood clots form, which can lead to serious consequences. There is a risk of clogging of blood vessels and heart valves, which inevitably leads to damage to the blood clot.
In the morning, the blood has a particularly thick consistency, which is why modern studies suggest that in the morning it is better to refuse to play sports.
To understand how to deal with excessive blood clotting, you should know about the causes of this problem:
- A person consumes little fluid.
- Some medicines may promote fluid in the vessels.
- Lack of vitamins and other beneficial substances.
- Heart diseases.
- Eating a lot of sweets and foods containing excessive amounts of carbohydrates.
- A malfunction in the body caused by a hormonal disorder.
As you can see from the list, many factors can lead to unwanted blood clotting, which is why after 40 years it is recommended to take blood for analysis. This will allow doctors to prescribe timely preventive treatment aimed at liquefying blood.
Why liquefy blood
Periodically, to thin the blood in the body is required for anyone who wants to reach old age. If the blood has become too thick, then blood clots will inevitably form in the body. The resulting thrombosis leads to instant death.
If you take measures in time and liquefy the blood as needed, then you will significantly reduce the risks of stroke and heart attack. Also, after prophylaxis aimed at improving the work of the heart, there will always be a good mood and well-being, because the blood circulation in the body will improve.
How does aspirin work?
The principle of action of acetylsalicylic acid is that, once inside the body, it prevents the production of prostaglandins, so platelets in the vessels do not accumulate and do not stick together. As a result, the risk of thrombosis and thromboembolism is significantly reduced.
Indications for daily use of aspirin:
- Thrombophlebitis.
- Atherosclerosis.
- Inflammation of the arteries.
- Heart diseases.
- Hypertension.
Persons suffering from hemorrhoids and varicose veins are also at risk.
If after passing the blood test procedure (hemogram), the patient has a tendency to form blood clots, doctors usually prescribe acetylsalicylic acid.
Dosage of aspirin for blood thinning
Many people wonder: how to take acetylsalicylic acid? If you use this medicine correctly, you can significantly reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack. Despite this, tablets should be drunk only with the permission of the attending physician. It is this rule that will help to maintain health, avoid unwanted side effects, including internal bleeding, life-threatening.
To dilute blood, a tablet weighing 0.5 grams is divided into 4 parts and washed down in one portion throughout the day. To achieve the desired effect, you need to use the drug for a weekly course without a break. It is also important not to exceed the maximum allowable dosage, which is 125 mg per day.
Since it is not very convenient to divide a tablet crumbling into small parts, modern medicine can offer many analogues of “Acetylsalicylic acid”, which are used to improve the blood condition. The most popular of them are considered “Losperin”, “TromboAss”, and others.
Recommendations for the use of aspirin
Acetylsalicylic acid has a negative effect on the functioning of the gastric mucosa, resulting in nausea, pain in the abdomen, heartburn and indigestion. With prolonged use of the drug, unpleasant diseases such as a stomach ulcer, bleeding in the digestive tract and the development of gastropathy can occur. To minimize the harm caused by the drug, it is enough to follow simple recommendations:
It is better to purchase the drug in the enteric coating.
- Do not exceed the recommended dose.
- During the preventive course, smoking and alcohol should be abandoned.
- You should not take the drug on an empty stomach.
- To prevent irritation in the stomach, after taking aspirin, magnesium hydroxide, which is sold in pharmacies in the form of tablets, should be taken.
- It is advisable to refuse harmful and fatty foods that burden the liver and stomach.
Among health workers, the question remains open whether it is worth taking additional drugs that reduce the acidity of the gastric juice during the daily use of aspirin, so this issue should be resolved at the appointment of a specialist who is treating you.
Interesting Facts About Aspirin
The name "aspirin" was first registered in 1899 in Germany. At first, the drug was produced only in powder form, and since 1904, for the convenience of consumers, a pharmaceutical company began to produce the drug in tablets. The remedy for heat and pain quickly gained popularity among the population of Western Europe, because it has established itself as a fast-acting, cheap and reliable, alleviating the suffering of patients.
In the first half of the 20th century, doctors believed that aspirin was only a means to relieve pain and heat. In 1953, an American scientist proved that a drug can significantly reduce the risk of diseases of the cardiovascular system. Nowadays, many people with heart disease take aspirin tablets.
Scientists to this day are studying the effect of this antipyretic on the human body. Many experts suggest that taking the drug for several days can protect the body from malignant tumors that cause cancer. Doctors also believe that acetylsalicylic acid can reduce the likelihood of chronic diseases of the internal organs in old age, as well as deal with the depressive state.
Contraindications
Aspirin, like other pharmaceuticals, is not an absolutely safe product and has its contraindications. It should be remembered that if you properly approach its use, follow the recommendations of the doctor and manufacturer, then the benefits of taking this medication will be more than harm.
The drug can reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, but it can also develop internal bleeding. It is also forbidden to drink acetylsalicylic acid during pregnancy, nursing mothers and young children. To reduce body temperature with an infectious disease, doctors (to treat this category of citizens) resort to paracetamol. The use of aspirin is also prohibited for people with gastric diseases.
Interaction with other medicines
Aspirin is a potent medicine, which is why care must be taken when taking it. It is incompatible with:
- alcohol
- anticoagulants;
- some dosage forms that lower sugar levels;
- many anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory drugs;
- diuretics and drugs for pressure.
There are many analogues of acetylsalicylic acid on the pharmaceutical market, so choosing an compatible medication is quite easy for an experienced doctor.
Mask for the face
Indications of acetylsalicylic acid are also cosmetic problems. For example, many girls use powder or tablets with a medicine to cleanse their skin.
The recipe for a face mask with acetylsalicylic acid:
- To begin with, crush 2 tablets of aspirin and activated carbon to a powder state.
- Then, half the teaspoon of citric acid in powder form must be added to the mixture.
- Pour the mixture with a small amount of water until a slightly liquid consistency is obtained.
- Next, thoroughly mix the resulting mass.
The product is ready, it remains only to apply a face mask with acetylsalicylic acid for 5-10 minutes, and then wash thoroughly.
Aspirin Reviews
Many people want to read reviews about acetylsalicylic acid. Since this drug is a very popular remedy for heat and pain in Russia, many patients speak about its advantages and disadvantages.
For the most part, people write positive reviews about acetylsalicylic acid. People emphasize that this is a relatively safe product, but it is very effective, inexpensive. It is sold in every pharmacy and released in a convenient manner. Analogues of this medication are usually many times more expensive. In addition, aspirin is used in folk medicine, for example, to cleanse the skin from impurities.