Everyone has seen the commerical where the man takes apsirin to stop his heart attack...well that got me thinking...is it true? How does it work?
In October 1997, the AHA reported in its journal, Circulation, that up to 10,000 more people would survive heart attacks if they would chew one 325 milligram aspirin tablet when they first had chest pain or other sign of a heart attack. Other studies have come to similar conclusions. One found that heart attack patients who took aspirin when their symptoms began, and then daily for one month, significantly lowered their risk of dying and of having another heart attack or stroke over the people in the study who were given the placebo. Now, just about all researchers agree that patients should be given aspirin during the first hour -- during pre-hospital transport or in the Emergency Room -- if a heart attack is suspected.
How it works: The Basics:
Basically, it interferes with the production of a series of chemicals in the body -- called prostaglandins -- that regulate many of the body’s vital functions. By blocking certain prostaglandins, aspirin lowers body temperature, relieves minor aches and pains, relieves inflammation and interferes with the role of blood platelets in forming clots. It is this last effect that appears to impact on risk for heart disease. Blood clots are formed by platelets grouping together. Aspirin interferes with this process by making the platelets less “sticky” -- and therefore less successful in grouping together -- by inhibiting the manufacture of prostaglandins. This same blood “thinning” action that makes aspirin effective in reducing a person’s risk for heart disease, but “you have to chew the aspirin, especially if you only have enteric-coated aspirin, because if you just pop one of those, you won’t see any action for hours.” Always call 911 first. Then, after chewing the aspirin, you can wash it down with water and get immediate medical attention.
Interesting Facts:
Aspirin was officially introduced 100 years ago and has been marketed in its current form for more than 80 years.
The origin of the drug can be traced back to Hippocrates. he advised his followers to chew the leaves of the willow tree to alleviate pain.
The Chinese have been using the bark of the same trees -- which contain salicin -- to control fever.
In the early 1800’s different derivatives of this bark were tested and one -- acetylsalicylic acid, the chemical name for aspirin -- was found to be tolerated better than the others.
http://www.yourfamilyshealth.com/cardiology/aspirin/
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
I was wondering about Asprin and Stroke when we discussed the stroke articles. I knew it thinned the blood but I didn't know exactly what that meant, so this blog explained that. Thanks!
Actually some of the infomation I found talked about stroke as well as heart attacks. As we know not all strokes are caused by blood clots so taking aspirin isn't advised. Some strokes are caused by ruptured blood vessels and taking aspirin could potentially make these bleeding strokes more severe. This is why it is strongly adivsed that a person experiencing symptoms call 911 first and follow instructions.
Wow. So aspirin has only been around for a hundred years. Actually would that be correct to say "only". A hundred years seems like a long time for something that has a medicinal purpose. For example, penicillin has been around since 1928, which seems like quite a while, but is it really. Do you know if it was one of the first, if not the first, substance used to alleviate pain?
Pain alleviation can be traced back to ancient times but it was not anywhere near that of today, of course.
To alleviate pain in ancient Egyptian physicians sedated patients by opiates, any of the narcotic alkaloids found in opium. Local anesthesia was also known, where water was mixed with vinegar over Memphite stone, resulting in the formation of carbon dioxide with its known analgesic effect.
The romans used opium, henbane, and mandrake. Opium numbed the patient and limited movement. Henbane induced sleeping and a slight amnesia. Finally, mandrake slowed the heart rate and deadened pain.
http://www.arabworldbooks.com/articles8b.htm
Post a Comment