Aspirin:
The Wonder Drug
History:
In the
5th century B.C., Hippocrates discovered that he could use the bark
and leaves of the willow tree to relieve pain and reduce fever. Unfortunately, the salicylic acid found in these
properties of the willow tree upset the stomach of those who used it. It was
not until the 1800’s that Felix Hoffman found the medicine we know as Aspirin
today. His father was suffering from
arthritis, but whenever he took the salicylic acid, he would become sick. After testing the salicylic acid for a
period of time, he found that if he could cover up one of the acidic parts with
an acetyl group. This would transform the
salicylic acid to acetylsalicylic acid, which is far less rough on the lining
of the stomach. By 1899, Friedrich
Baker & Co., whom Hoffman worked for, was distributing this new wonder drug
all over the world.
How does Aspirin work?
Basically, it helps solve the body’s
pain problems by keeping it from making prostaglandins. In order to do this, the aspirin has to
attach itself onto the enzyme cyclooxygenase 2, also known as COX-2. The body produces this COX-2 in order to
find chemicals in the tissues and make them into prostaglandins. By attaching to the COX-2, the aspirin keeps
it from doing what it is supposed to do.
It is important to note that the pain reliever in no way heals the
problem causing the pain—it simply relieves the pain. Once taken, the Aspirin travels to the stomach, where it then
dissolves. From here, it goes through
the digestive tract to the small intestines, where the Aspirin is
absorbed. Now, the medicine enters the
bloodstream where it is spread throughout the entire body. Once spread throughout the body, the Aspirin
tracks down the prostaglandins, which are generally near or around the spot of
pain. Unfortunately, in order to keep
the lining in the stomach thick, the body needs prostaglandins. The enzyme COX-1 makes the prostaglandin in
the stomach. Since aspirin attaches to
all prostaglandins, the COX-1 is also affected, leaving the stomach lining
thin. Most likely, this is the reason
that the stomach becomes upset after taking Aspirin or some other form of pain
reliever. After a certain amount of
time, the body finds a way to get rid of all medicines. The stomach and a few other organs change
Aspirin into salicylic acid. Then the
liver get a hold of it and changes it a smidgen more by adding some other
chemicals so the kidneys can filter it out of the blood and excrete it through
the urine. Generally, the process takes
approximately 4-6 hours, at which point another dosage will need to be
taken.
Other uses for Aspirin:
In recent years, Aspirin has been
found useful in preventing heart attacks, strokes, and arthritis in addition to
relieving pain, reducing inflammation, and reducing fevers. As we discussed earlier, Aspirin attaches
itself to prostaglandins in the body. A
few types of prostaglandins cause blood platelets (tiny particles in the blood)
to stick together in order to form a clot.
These prostaglandins come in handy when a paper cut appears because they
help stop the bleeding. However, if
Aspirin is in the body, the prostaglandins are unable to do their job, meaning
that the bleeding will take longer than usual to stop. Fortunately, this also means that aspirin
will keep clots from forming in the area of the heart, thus preventing heart
attacks. In much the same way, Aspirin
helps put a stop to strokes through thinning the blood. As a result, many doctors prescribe Aspirin
to prevent heart attacks and strokes in their patients. For those who have already had a heart
attack or stroke, Aspirin is taken to prevent another episode, as well as
helping keep the patient alive.
Reasons not to take Aspirin:
There are a few people who should not
take Aspirin. Children under the age of
sixteen who have chickenpox or flu symptoms should not take Aspirin under any
circumstances. Aspirin can cause a
potentially deadly disease in children called Reye Syndrome. Also, if someone is allergic to aspirin,
aspirin-like products, or any part of the medicine, they should not take this
medication. People who have asthma,
rhinitis, nasal polyps, or bleeding problems should stay away from aspirin. Finally, women who are 24 weeks pregnant or
more should not take aspirin—it may cause birth defects in the child. There are also a couple precautions that
should be paid attention to when taking aspirin. First, avoid drinking alcoholic beverages, such as wine, beer,
and liquor—the alcohol can cause stomach irritation. Second, those who are 65 years old or older should take special
precautions because they may have unusual side effects. Third, if a patient has stomach ulcers or
bleeding, he or she should contact a healthcare provider before taking the
aspirin. Lastly, do not take aspirin
when taking any other medications.
Side Affects:
There are only a few
side affects that are often associated with aspirin. The first side effect is nausea or
vomiting. Often, small frequent meals,
frequent mouth care, sucking hard candy, or chewing gum helps calm the nausea
and vomiting. The next side effect
often comes in the form of stomach pain or heartburn. The final side effect is stomach bleeding or stomach ulcers. In most cases, people should watch for dark
stools that are black in color. If
anyone experiences any of these side effects, they should immediately contact
their local doctor or healthcare provider.
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