ASPIRIN [ ACETYLYSALICYLIC ]

Aspirin is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It was the first of this class of drug to be discovered.

It contains salicylate, a compound found in plants such as the willow tree and myrtle. Its use was first recorded around 4,000 years agoTrusted Source.

Hippocrates used willow bark for relieving pain and fevers, and some people still use willow bark as a natural remedy for headaches and minor pain.

NSAIDs are a class of drug with the following effects:

• relieving pain
• reducing fever
• lowering inflammation, in higher doses

These drugs are not steroids. Steroids often have similar benefits to NSAIDs, but they are not appropriate for everyone and can have unwanted side effects.

As analgesics, NSAIDs tend to be non-narcotic. This means that they do not cause insensibility or a stupor.

It’s a trademark owned by the German pharmaceutical company Bayer. The generic term for aspirin is acetylsalicylic acid.

It has many uses, including relieving pain and swelling, managing various conditions, and reducing the risk of cardiovascular events in people with a high risk.

Below, we describe these uses in more details.

Pain and swelling Of Aspirin

It can relieve mild to moderate pain, swelling, or both associated with many health issues, such as:

• headaches
• a cold or flu
• sprains and strains
• menstrual cramps
• long-term conditions, such as arthritis and migraine

For severe pain, a doctor may recommend using aspirin alongside another drug, such as an opioid pain reliever or another NSAID.

Preventing cardiovascular events

The daily use of low-dose aspirin can lower the risk of cardiovascular events in some people — it is not safe for everyone. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)Trusted Source recommend only using aspirin in this way under the supervision of a doctor.

In people with a high risk of cardiovascular events, low-dose can reduce the risk by preventing blood clots from forming.

A doctor may recommend daily low-dose for people who :

• have a heart or blood vessel disease
• have evidence of poor blood flow to the brain
• have high blood cholesterol
• have high blood pressure, or hypertension
• have diabetes
• smoke

However, for people without these issues, the risks of long-term aspirin use can outweigh the benefits.

The 2016 recommendations from the United States Preventive Services Task Force say that adults aged 50–59 may take aspirin daily to prevent colorectal cancer, as well as cardiovascular disease. However, this guidance only applies to adults in the age range who:

• have at least a 10% 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease
• do not have a high risk of bleeding
• have a life expectancy of at least 10 years
• are willing to take a daily low dose for at least 10 years

Treating coronary events

Doctors may administer aspirin immediately after a heart attack, stroke, or another cardiovascular event to prevent further clot formation and cardiac tissue death.

It can also be part of a treatment plan for people who have recently had:

• revascularization surgery, such as an angioplasty or coronary bypass surgery
• a mini-stroke, or transient ischemic attack
• an ischemic stroke, which is caused by a blood clot

Other uses

It can also help treat pain and swelling associated with the following chronic health conditions:

• rheumatic conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and other inflammatory joint conditions
• systemic lupus erythematosus
• inflammation around the heart, known as pericarditis

Doctors may recommend low-dose aspirin to people:

• with retinal damage, also called retinopathy
• who have had diabetes for more than 10 years
• who are taking antihypertensive medications
• with a risk of colorectal cancer