Aspirin and Health

Aspirin is a synthetic chemical compound that is technically known as acetylsalicylic acid. Aspirin was originally synthesized by the German chemist Felix Hoffman, whose father used to take salicylic acid for his rheumatism. Aspirin is commonly used for fever, mild to moderate pain and inflammation. Its analgesic properties have more efficacy than codeine. However, aspirin can cause gastrointestinal bleeding which may lead to gastric ulcers. Today's aspirin eliminate this problem because of an enteric coating which keeps the aspirin from dissolving until it hits the intestine. Yet research reveals that other possible beneficial affects on health may be attributable to a varying degree to aspirin. Aspirin suffered a backlash of popularity for a period of time because of findings that is was responsible for Reye's syndrome, a rare and deadly condition that attacks children with chicken pox or the flu. Doctor's immediately began recommending other substitutes for aspirin in young patients to avoid these atypical complications of aspirin therapy. "Take two aspirin and call me in the morning," however, is fast again becoming the catch-phrase of physicians bolstered by encouraging new research that touts not only aspirin's ability to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, but also its effectiveness as an anti-cancer agent, "The wonder drug has made a remarkable comeback. In recent years it has been shown to be a powerful inhi

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nt of heart attacks and strokes has continued to increase in an era when cardiovascular disease is on the rise. The increase in the use and prescription of aspirin therapy has also come about as patients and those concerned about maintaining a healthy lifestyle recognize the ways in which aspirin ingestion can prevent or limit heart attacks and strokes. Aspirin also continues to be a popular method of prevention and treatment for heart attack and stroke because it is cost-effective and must less expensive than other forms of medication. Nonetheless, some studies report that in spite of the beneficial effects of aspirin where heart attack and stroke are concerned, many physicians fail to understand the ways in which heart attacks are presented in patients. The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology both urge aspirin therapy to start immediately after a heart attack. However, a significant study conducted by Brown University shows that many physicians do not give aspirin in a timely manner to heart attack and stroke victims, despite evidence of the drug's proven benefits to reduce mortality rates from heart attack: The study by Brown University faculty was published in the July 1997 issue of the jo

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