ASPIRIN A MODERN MEDICAL MIRACLE
Aspirin really is ONE OF THE MOST FABULOUS DRUGS on the market FOR CERTAIN CONDITIONS!
The father of modern medicine was Hippocrates, who lived sometime between 460 B.C and 377 B.C. Hippocrates was left historical records of pain relief treatments, including the use of powder made from the bark and leaves of the willow tree to help heal headaches, pains and fevers.
By 1829, scientists discovered that it was the compound called SALICIN in willow plants which HAD PAIN RELIEVING PROPERTIES!
Because Salicin was tough on stomachs, a means of 'buffering' (i.e. decreasing stomach effects) was searched for. In 1853, Charles Frederic Gerhardt, neutralized salicin by buffering it with sodium and acetyl chloride, creating acetylsalicylic acid- what we currently call ASPIRIN. Gerhardt never sold or marketed his medical miracle. So along came a man called, Felix Hoffmann who convinced his employer, Bayer to market the new wonder drug. Aspirin was patented on February 27, 1900.
File:Bayer Aspirin ad, NYT, February 19, 1917
Some uses for aspirin include:
- Stroke,
- PREVENTION of blood clots
- Painful periods
- Fever,
- Headache Disorder,
- HEART ATTACK and HEART ATTACK PREVENTION
- Pain,
- various forms of arthritis
Do not use aspirin if:
- pregnant, and especially if you are in your 3rd trimester of pregnancy
- You are breast feeding
- YOU ARE A CHILD!!!
- you are allergic to "salicylates"
- if you have an ulcer
- If you have a "bleeding disorder" such as anemia or decrease in clotting factors
To highlight aspirins amazing properties, it truly is very effective at managing pain. But, according to many of my professors, one of the best preventative measure you can take regarding avoiding a heart attack is to keep an aspirin in your wallet or purse. When you feel chest pain or feel a heart attack beginning, one of the best ways to decrease the extent of the heart damage is to CHEW AN ASPIRIN. This has been proven to be one of the best MEASURES YOU CAN TAKE TO TREAT A HEART ATTACK, YOURSELF BEFORE THE AMBULANCE ARRIVES. IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO SAVE YOUR LIFE! So You, yourself must keep an aspirin in your wallet at all times, an tell your parents, grandparents and spouses to do the same.
It is important to understand HOW aspirin is able to accomplish this miracle. The reason is because of it's mode of action and how it is absorbed in the body. THERE ARE ONLY TWO SUBSTANCES THAT ARE ABSORBED IN THE STOMACH: ALCOHOL AND ASPIRIN, versus other drugs and substances have to run their course through your intestines before absorbed and therefore take a much longer time to take effect in the body. Once absorbed, Aspirin works in three functions: anti-inflammatory (i.e. decreases pain), anti-pyretic (i.e. decreases fever) and a POTENT ANTI-COAGULANT (i.e. stops blood from clotting). It is the clotting blood that is causing a heart attack, you can stop FURTHER clotting.
Also, according to pharmacology one of the best ways to PREVENT A FIRST-TIME HEART ATTACK, is to take a "BABY ASPIRIN" (I.E. 81 MG) Because the dosage is soooo small, there are virtually no side effects associated with it (unless you are allergic to aspirin). One "baby aspirin" can affect and alter the clotting properties of your blood for many days (in a good way!). So I would ADVISE ANYONE WITH A STRONG FAMILY HISTORY OF HEART ATTACK, to start taking a "baby 81 mg aspirin" every day or every other day. Because the potential this little dosage has to stop a FIRST HEART ATTACK is very high!!!
The most significant side effects associated with aspirin include:
- Abdominal Pain with Cramps,
- Stomach Irritation,
- Heartburn,
- Nausea,
- Vomiting
Hope this was helpful for all my fellow blogging friends!
Kim
Sources include: www.emedicine.com, www.cartoonstock.com, and
http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blaspirin.htm
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