Introduction to Aspirin
Aspirin, also known as acetylsalicylic acid, is a widely used medicine that provides a variety of health benefits. One of the most important advantages of aspirin is its ability to decrease inflammation, which may assist to relieve pain and suffering. Aspirin is often used to treat headaches, muscular pains, and toothaches.
Aspirin and Heart Health
Aspirin may benefit heart health in a variety of ways. Aspirin may help persons with heart disease by inhibiting the synthesis of prostaglandins, which are molecules that increase inflammation and constrict blood vessels. Aspirin, by reducing prostaglandin synthesis, may assist to decrease inflammation and prevent blood vessels from narrowing, lowering the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Aspirin: a Powerful Medication
Aspirin has a lengthy history of usage as a therapeutic medication. It was originally produced in the late 1800s by German scientist Felix Hoffmann, and it was first used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory disorders. In the decades afterwards, experts have found that aspirin has a variety of additional therapeutic benefits on the body, and it has subsequently become one of the most extensively used pharmaceuticals in the world.
Aspirin: As Popular as Ever
Aspirin is still frequently used today to treat a number of diseases, including headaches, muscular pains, and toothaches. It is also often used as a preventative strategy to minimize the risk of heart attack and stroke in patients who are predisposed to these disorders. For example, some patients who have had a past heart attack or stroke may be encouraged by their doctor to take aspirin on a daily basis to assist prevent another occurrence from happening. Furthermore, aspirin is often used in conjunction with other drugs to treat more severe cardiac diseases such as angina or heart failure.
Other Aspirin Facts
Here are some important dates related to aspirin:
- Felix Hoffmann, a scientist at the German pharmaceutical firm Bayer, synthesizes aspirin for the first time in 1899.
- Bayer began promoting aspirin as a pain treatment in 1906.
- Aspirin is approved as a prescription medicine by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1953.
- Aspirin is approved for over-the-counter sale in the United States by the FDA in 1980.
- 1997: The United States Preventive Services Task Force advises that patients who are at high risk of having a heart attack take aspirin on a regular basis to prevent heart attacks and strokes.
- 2002: The FDA cautions that children and teens suffering from chickenpox or flu-like symptoms should not use aspirin because they risk developing Reye’s syndrome, an uncommon but potentially lethal illness.
- 2016: The FDA enhances the warning regarding the risk of bleeding while taking aspirin, especially for persons over the age of 75 or those with a history of stomach ulcers.
Considerations Regarding Aspirin
You can get aspirin in lots of forms and strengths. Before starting an aspirin regimen, please always see and speak with a healthcare professional. We do not endorse any particular drug, supplement or vitamin, but present information here for learning and educational purposes.
