Aspirin is the common name for acetylsalicylic acid, which is used as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) to relieve pain, reduce fever, and minimize swelling. It is also used as an anti-platelet drug to prevent blood clots and as a preventative measure for heart conditions. Aspirin is available over the counter and commonly used for headaches, colds, flu, and preventative heart care, though it can have gastrointestinal side effects.

1. Aspirin
Aspirin is the common name of the drug acetylsalicylic acid. In fact, aspirin is a brand name
owned by the pharmaceutical company Bayer, though the drug can now be made by anyone.
As an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug), aspirin is often taken to relieve pain,
reduce fever, and minimize swelling. It is also used as an anti-platelet drug to prevent blood
clots and as a preventative measure in people suffering from a heart condition.
If you need to know more about NSAIDs, take a look at this: What are NSAIDs?
Availability
Aspirin is an over the counter medication. It’s sold worldwide.
Aspirin Dosage
Aspirin is not generally considered safe for children. It should only be given to a child under the
age of 12 under a doctor’s supervision. If aspirin is used for a specific condition, the dosage is
usually dependent on the child’s weight.
As a preventative medicine, aspirin is given in low doses. These doses range from 75 mg to 325
mg per day.
As a pain medication, 325 mg to 600 mg Can be taken at a time. This dosage is generally safe
to take every four hours, but the total daily dose shouldn’t exceed 4 g (4000 mg) in a single
day.
High dose aspirin is prescribed for certain chronic conditions. Individual doses are typically 1 g
(1000 g) at a time up to 3 g or 4 g a day. This higher dose aspirin is typically a longer release
formula.
Common Uses Of Aspirin
Headaches
This is the classic use of aspirin. It’s been used for over a hundred years as a headache
medication. However, as the stomach side effects of aspirin can be stronger than other NSAID,
it’s not a popular as other NSAIDs for migraine headaches. An exception is the combination of
aspirin, acetaminophen (paracetamol) and caffeine found in Excedrin (a trademark of Bayer).
Cold/Flu
Aspirin is also commonly taken to relieve the aches, sore throat, and fever associated with the
common cold.
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2. Preventative Heart Care
Low-dose aspirin is often prescribed to people who suffer from various heart conditions, and it’s
been shown to reduce the chances of recurring stroke and heart attack. Recent studies have
shown, however, that among people wh haven’t developed any heart disease, aspirin doesn’t
significantly reduce the risk of developing heart disease.
Rheumatic Fever
In high doses, aspirin is effective in treating acute rheumatic fever. It can have results in as little
as a few days.
Kawasaki Disease
Kawasaki disease is a rare disease affecting children’s blood vessels. This is one of the
conditions where aspirin is recommended for children. Any aspirin can be dangerous for
children, but in this case it serves to thin the blood, treat the inflammation, and reduce the fever.
It should only be administered by a doctor.
Click here for more information about common uses of NSAIDs.
Side Effects of Aspirin
The most common side effects of aspirin are related to the stomach and intestines. Generally
the side effects are mild and don’t continue after the body uses up and eliminates the drug.
The most common side effects aren’t cause for alarm unless they are unbearable or continue
even if you are no longer taking aspirin. They are as follows:
heartburn
nausea
upset stomach
Occasionally there are more severe side effects. If any of these appear, it’s important to stop
using aspirin and to see a doctor as soon as possible.
allergic reaction (as a rash, itchy skin, difficulty breathing, or swelling in the mouth, face,
fingers, and toes)
diarrhea or vomiting
black or bloody bowel movements
dizziness
drowsiness
ringing in the ears or hearing loss
unusual bruising or excessive bleeding
As a special note on side effects, aspirin is one of the few NSAIDs that does not cause high bod
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3. pressure or increased chances of cardiovascular disease. Most other NSAIDs affect heart
health with chronic use.
Click here for more information about NSAIDs side effects.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE: Aspirin
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