Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) is an anti-inflammatory that suppresses prostaglandins and thromboxanes. Inhibiting prostaglandins is responsible for the anti-inflammatory effects, while inhibition of thromboxanes inhibits platelet clotting.
Aspirin is recommended daily for people with a high risk of CV disease to prevent blood clots. A study by HealthCare Gill Heart Institute at the University of Kentucky recommends taking a baby aspirin (81mg) instead of a full dose (325g) to minimize adverse effects of aspirin such as GI bleeding. Even diabetics were not recommended to take the full aspirin dose.
While overdose is not as large a concern as with acetaminophen, there are still issues with dosing that are being revised, even for a drug that has been in use since the 1800’s.
http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20070508/baby-aspirin-may-be-best-for-heart
I find it pretty nutty that certain customary medications, like aspirin, can still have their mysteries. I remember back in the day, when aspirin was a word that was as common as "car" or "house."
ReplyDeleteIn theory, I think a variety of medications can compromise the CV system. Anything that can travel in your blood stream can alter the blood pressure and can impair certain physiological capabilities.
I wonder if there are physiologists who strictly patent their consultations with certain pharmaceutical companies about reporting what effects a medication can have on the CV system.
I agree with Jason. Obviously medications are meant to help some kind of physiological problem, but it is interesting to think how even seemingly harmless drugs can lead to CV system problems. The problem is not necessarily the drugs themselves but the inability to control how much someone will take of a given medication. Hopefully, over time, people will become more educated on over the counter and prescription medications so we can avoid over dosage and complications that sometimes occur.
ReplyDeleteMy dad has been taking baby aspirins for years now. I did research on it when I was younger because I wondered why baby instead of a full dose. After reading just a few articles you can understand that it can be harmful to your GI tract with over dosage. I am in a US health Care Policy class also and I am doing a presentation on health promotion. I am going to add over the counter and prescription education to what should be taught to the general population. I know many people do not have those curious minds like ours to research what a drug that is supposed to be helpful can do to harm you. It goes as far as patients who get addicted to pain medication and if they were just told before hand what signs to look out for I am sure a lot of this could be prevented. The problem is people are just not educated enough.
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