The Surprising Effects of Aspirin on Humans

1. The human body when sick is subject to symptoms of pain, inflammation and fever.

These symptoms, in their simple form, hinder daily human activities and if they get worse, they may even threaten the patient's life. Another problem is the risk some people run of having a stroke or heart attack. Finally, a very widespread cause of death in our time is cancer.

Aspirin is one of the most widespread drugs that can deal with the above problems of the body. It was released in 1987 as a drug by the Bayer company.

Aspirin consumption is 120 billion tablets per year. It is an analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory drug. It also has an anti-platelet effect, preventing the formation of blood clots. So it inductively prevents stroke and heart attack.

Finally, there are indications that it helps prevent the appearance of cancerous tumors. Its downside is that it can have side effects on the liver and that it thins the blood, increasing the risk of an upcoming bleed.

2. Chemical type

The chemical name of Aspirin is Acetyl-salicylic acid and its chemical formula is the following:

• IUPAC code: 2-Acetoxybenzoic acid

• Formula: C₉H₈O₄

• Molecular mass: 180.158 g/mol

It belongs to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and is a white, crystalline, slightly acidic compound.

3. Therapeutic Action with the reception (application) of Aspirin Absorption

Acetyl-salicylic acid is a weak acid that is slightly ionized in the stomach after swallowing the tablet. It is absorbed from the stomach and small intestine. It is broken down into salicylic acid, transported to the blood and from there to the various organs.

• The acetyl group of aspirin imparts a special physiological action to the drug, an action that simple salicylic acid does not possess.

• It is finally eliminated from the body through the kidneys

4. Mechanism of Chemical Action

-Antipyretic Action: Aspirin, by being absorbed and transported into the blood, prevents the production of prostaglandin and prostanoids in general. These are substances (acids) involved in pathological functions such as inflammation, hemostasis and thrombosis. Acetyl-salicylic acid inhibits the production of prostaglandins, protecting the body from the effects that would be caused by their action (pain, fever, inflammation).

-Antithrombotic Action: Aspirin in small doses (75 to 100 mg per day) acts by irreversibly inhibiting the action of the COX 1 enzyme in platelets, with the final result of reducing their adhesion and thus preventing thrombosis.

-Anticancer Action: Studies are being done on the effect on the prevention of malignancies. Aspirin appears to play a role in genes that reduce tumor proliferation. There are studies that prove its beneficial effect on stomach, colon and liver cancer.

5. Consequences – Negative effects on health

The main side effects of Aspirin include:

-Stomach irritation, ulcer.

-Aggravation of hemorrhagic strokes, because it reduces blood coagulability.

- Risk of Reye's syndrome: This syndrome, although rare, is devastating and mainly affects children. It is characterized by cerebral edema and liver failure. For this reason, aspirin is not recommended for children.

- Asthma and polyps of the nose.

These side effects are within reason and the occasional use of aspirin for pain relief is considered safe for the majority of people.

However, the daily use of aspirin can cause serious side effects due to its anticoagulant effect. This has advantages, such as reducing the risk of a second heart attack or stroke, often caused by blood clotting, but also risks. In the event of an injury, platelets accumulate in the area to help the blood clot. When aspirin is taken daily, this blood clotting is reduced and the risk of bleeding, internal or external, increases.

Extensive studies are still being done to determine if the benefits of long-term Aspirin consumption outweigh the side effects. Especially in cases where aspirin is given to prevent cardiac and thrombotic events in older people, as they are at higher risk of internal bleeding.

In any case, Aspirin is one of the most widely used drugs in the world and has saved millions of lives.

References

TENWAYS. (2021, December 26). HealthyLiving.gr. https://www.healthyliving.gr. Accessed 1 Aug. 2023.

Aspirin Πόνος, πυρετός, συμπτώματα κρυολογήματος ή γρίπης. https://www.aspirin.gr/ Aspirin | Description, uses, & side effects. (1998, July 20). Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.Britannica.com/science/aspirin. Accessed 1 Aug. 2023

A history of aspirin. (2021, February 12). The Pharmaceutical Journal. https://www.pharmaceutical-journal.com/news-and-analysis/infographics/a-history-of-aspirin. Accessed 1 Aug. 2023.

Cache://195.134.7637/chemicals/chem_ASA.htm - Google search. (n.d.).https://195.134.7637/chemicals/chem_ASA.htm. Accessed 1 Aug. 2023

DrugBank online. (n.d.). DrugBank Online | Database for Drug and Drug Target Info. https://go.drugbank.com/drugs/DB00945https://www.uptodate.com/contents/aspirin-mechanism-of-action-major-toxicities-and-use-in-rheumatic-disease. Accessed 1 Aug. 2023.

  Καλόγλου, Λ. (2021, September 3). Ασπιρίνη: Τι γίνεται στο σώμα μας αν παίρνουμε κάθε μέρα.  

            HEALTHVIEW. https://www.healthview.gr/aspirini-ti-ginetai-sto-soma-mas-an-pairnoyme-kathe-mera/. Accessed 1 Aug. 2023.