Pros of use of Aspirin
From pain relief to disease prevention
Aspirin is a salicylate drug and is also included in the class of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Most of people use newer NSAIDs like ibuprofen or take acetaminophen (Tylenol) to reduce fever and pain.
Aspirin has anti-clotting action and preventive action which has a great benefit. Some research says that certain adults take low-dose aspirin to prevent heart disease, stroke, pregnancy complications and colorectal cancer.
Aspirin’s major side effect: internal bleeding.
Aspirin can help prevent a second heart attack or stroke.
Aspirin prevents the formation of clots in the blood vessels and blocks blood supply to the heart and brain (as well as other parts of the body). That can help in prevention of heart attacks or strokes. But anyone can not take aspirin. It should be taken by some specific group of people to prevent cardiovascular disease and events.
Previously, it is said that a healthy people can take a daily low-dose aspirin to prevent heart attack or stroke. But with evidence it is proved that there are some dangerous effect of taking low dose of aspirin regularly. It’s now not prescribed routinely for people without a history of or increased risk factors for heart disease.
For primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in adults ages 60 or older aspirin is prohibited. For adults between 40 and 59 with some CVD risk, it can be taken.
That stance aligns with American Heart Association recommendations, which states: “Aspirin should be used rarely to help prevent heart attacks and strokes among adults ages 40 to 70 without known cardiovascular disease.” However, “these recommendations do not apply to people who have had a heart attack or stroke, or have a stent in an artery – those patients should remain on aspirin as prescribed by their doctor.”
It may lower preeclampsia risk during pregnancy.
Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-related condition which involves high blood pressure and potentially serious complications for both the mother and the foetus. Low-dose aspirin after 12 weeks of gestation is beneficial to reduce the risk of preeclampsia among those at high risk.
People who are at highest risk for preeclampsia:
- History of preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy.
- Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.
- Chronic hypertension.
Primary vs. secondary prevention
To prevent primary or secondary prevention aspirin is useful. Primary prevention refers to preventing cardiovascular episode in first episode in someone who has never experienced it. Secondary prevention refers to preventing a repeat cardiovascular event in someone who’s already affected.
Aspirin is advised for some people with diabetes.
Taking a daily low-dose aspirin for primary prevention in diabetic patient is useful. But it depends whether the patient has other cardiovascular risks or not.
Aspirin adverse effects:
- Bleeding
- Mostly gastrointestinal
It is recommended that the use of a low-dose aspirin in men or women (with diabetes) who are 50 and older and have an additional risk factor like having high cholesterol, hypertension, a family history of premature atherosclerotic vascular disease, being a smoker or having chronic kidney disease may indicate recommending daily preventive aspirin in these patients
Diabetic patients should take aspirin to speak with their doctor before initiating or stopping aspirin use for primary prevention.
It may reduce risk of colon cancer.
Aspirin helps in prevention of colon cancer. It can reduce risk of any types of polyps thus reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. It is beneficial for cancer condition.
Aspirin possibly helps reduce the risk of breast and other cancers.
Aspirin helps in prevention of early risk of breast cancer. It has anti tumor properties. It inhibits the growth of the tumor and cell division. It also shows anti oestrogen effects. Thus, it prevents breast cancer.
CONS OF USE OF ASPIRIN:
It may increase the risk of brain bleeding.
Aspirin makes the blood thin: It makes the blood’s platelets less sticky. That’s why the blood become clot. This occurs in the brain, which can be fatal.
Aspirin affects gastric bleeding risk.
Aspirin lower the ability of blood to clot. It also inhibits some helpful substance that protect the stomach lining. Thus, it increases the risk of gastric bleeding.
Aspirin can interact with other drugs.
Aspirin (like many drugs) can interact with a many drug:
- Blood-thinners. Aspirin interacts with warfarin.
- Direct-Acting Oral Anticoagulants. Aspirin interacts with anticoagulants like Eliquis, Pradaxa and inhibit the blood’s ability to form blood clots.
- Salicylates. Medications such as Pepto-Bismol and Pamprin Cramp Formula are salicylate drugs (like aspirin), which also infracts with aspirin.
- NSAID pain relievers. Medications like ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, like aspirin. The Food and Drug Administration warns that aspirin’s cardiovascular benefits may be diminished by ibuprofen.
Aspirin may increase the risk of Reye’s syndrome in kids.
Reye’s syndrome, life-threatening condition that affects children and adolescents both. It can be caused by aspirin.it mostly occur in children age less than 3 years. It can develop after a viral infection such as chickenpox or the flu. In Reye’s syndrome mitochondria is damaged. It also includes confusion, lethargy and other mental issue.
Aspirin can cause asthma in some people.
Aspirin causes harmful effect in people have asthma and nasal polyps, taking aspirin or other NSAIDs may cause reactions or asthma exacerbations.
A chronic condition, AERD can causes some of respiratory symptoms like
- Skin flushing
- Rash
- Abdominal pain
- Loss of the sense of smell
So, use aspirin only when doctor suggest otherwise we should not use it randomly.
Its long-term use has been linked to hearing loss in men.
Aspirin may increase the risk of hearing loss. It has some autotoxicity effect. It may cause mild, moderate sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus. But it causes reversible ototoxic effect which can be treated. Long term use of aspirin may cause it. So, without consult with doctor avoid taking aspirin.
Aspirin can provide emergency first aid for heart attacks.
Aspirin is helpful in emergency situation of heart condition. If blood clot occurs in heart, it may cause some serious issue. So, at this moment aspirin prevent the formation of clot and relief the patient. But it does not indicate to use aspirin regularly. It may than causes some serious life-threatening condition.
Without proper consultation with doctor aspirin should not use especially in old ages person.
Aspirin: benefits and risks
Aspirin pros and cons:
- Prevention of heart attack.
- Prevention of stroke.
- Prevention of preeclampsia in pregnancy.
- Benefit for some people with diabetes.
- Colon cancer risk reduction.
- Potential for lowering liver, oesophageal and breast cancer risk.
- Brain bleeding risk.
- Gastric bleeding risk.
- Drug interactions.
- Reye’s syndrome in kids.
- Asthma in some people.
- Possible hearing loss.
- Emergency first aid for heart attack condition.
