What is aspirin?
Aspirin, formally known as Acetylsalicylic Acid, is a widely and commonly used medicine for pain, inflammation and fevers. It is an "NSAID" (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug). You likely have a bottle of it in your medicine cabinet. It comes from willow tree leaves and has been used to its beneficial health effects around the world for the past 2400 years. It was made initially in 1853 and bottled and sold by the Bayer company in 1899. This is when it got the name "aspirin".
How does aspirin work?
Aspirin reduces inflammation by reducing the production of prostaglandin and thromboxane, which are hormones involved in sending pain signals to the brain, adjustmenting body temperature (ie. reducing fever), as well as preventing platelets from clumping and forming blood clots.
Is aspirin harmful?
All NSAIDS can cause stomache irritation with inflammation and bleeding if you take too much. To help prevent this, it is often made with an "enteric coating" or "buffered."
In general, no more than 4000 mg should be taken in a 24-hour period, typically in doses of about 325-650mg every 4-6 hours for pain and fever. Lower doses are used for prevention of heart attacks and strokes. All children (anyone under 20 years old) are advised to avoid aspirin completely due to the risk of Reye Syndrome, which is a rare but serious condition that causes swelling of the brain and liver and can lead to permanent disability.
Because aspirin prevents platelets from clumping and prevents blood clots, it can also increase your risk of bleeding.
Do I need a daily baby aspirin?
Not everyone needs to take a daily aspirin, but for some people, low-dose aspirin can help prevent heart attacks and strokes and maybe even colon cancer. When doctors advise someone to start taking a daily aspirin, they take into consideration the benefits that person may get from taking aspirin every day along with their risk of bleeding. Everyone is different, so talk to your doctor to see what she recommends.