| Attacking more than pain - Part 1 | | | | increase the amount of bleeding during childbirth, |
| Most drugs are consumed for a common purpose | | | | tooth extraction and surgery. Many physicians |
| - the hope that they will offer some degree of | | | | recommend that people with serious liver disease, |
| pain relief. Whether out of desperation or habit, | | | | kidney malfunction, vitamin K deficiency and blood |
| people regularly turn to pain medications to relief | | | | clotting disorders refrain from taking aspirin. |
| the agonizing pain caused by arthritis, migraine | | | | Furthermore, many people are allergic to aspirin, |
| headache, back injuries, surgeries and other | | | | experiencing a wide variety of reactions from |
| ailments. To consumers' satisfaction, pain killers | | | | hives and rashes to swollen lymph nodes, severe |
| often live up to their promises and dull what | | | | breathing difficulties and drop in blood pressure. |
| seems to be unbearable pain. In turn, however, | | | | Rarely a person will have an anaphylactic reaction |
| they can also bring a variety of dangerous and | | | | (collapse in shock) on taking it (Withers). |
| frequently overlooked consequences. | | | | Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) |
| None is without harmful side effects, whether in | | | | Over time, the world's search for an ideal pain |
| the form of over the counter (OTC) drugs, such | | | | killer has expanded to include a wide variety of |
| as aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-flammatory drugs | | | | anti-inflammatory drugs in addition to aspirin. |
| (NSAIDs) or prescription drugs such as narcotics | | | | These anti-inflammatory drugs can be divided into |
| and steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Unknown to | | | | two categories - nonsteroidal and steroidal drug. |
| many consumers, pain medications may be | | | | The more frequently used of the two categories, |
| attacking more than pain, thereby inhibiting the | | | | NSAIDs, work by inhibiting the formation of |
| body's natural defenses against illness. | | | | chemicals in the body that cause pain, fever and |
| Aspirin | | | | inflammation. This drug group includes pain killers |
| Aspirin is a prime example of an OTC drug that | | | | such as acetaminophen and ibuprophen. NSAIDs |
| provides a mixture of positive and negative | | | | have proven beneficial, but nevertheless, they are |
| results. Around for years, aspirin has become the | | | | all associated with significant side effects. |
| common solution to many health dilemmas. | | | | NSAIDs inhibit the formation of thromboxane A2 |
| Because of its popularity, studies show that many | | | | and prostaglandin endoperoxides which are |
| people no longer view aspirin as a drug, consuming | | | | necessary for platelet aggregation. With most |
| it just as they would a daily vitamin. Basil | | | | NSAIDs, this increased bleeding period lasts only |
| Hirschowitz, M.D., a University of Alabama at | | | | until the drug has been eliminated (1-2 days); |
| Birmingham gastroenterologist noted this | | | | however, aspirin produces prolonged effects of |
| observation: "In 30 cases of patients with surgery | | | | 7-10 days. Regarding wound healing, there is some |
| for intractable ulcers, blood tests showed they | | | | evidence for impairment of healing of intestinal |
| had been taking aspirin. But half the patients | | | | anastomoses. Although acetaminophen is not as |
| denied using aspirin. Many people may not realize | | | | likely to cause stomach damage as aspirin, it is |
| aspirin is in the medicine they are taking or they | | | | characterized by its own harmful effects. Larges |
| are in denial of the potential dangers of taking the | | | | doses of acetaminophen may cause severe liver |
| drugs" (Aspirin). | | | | damage and death. |
| Indeed, aspirin is a drug with the potential to | | | | The functions of many NSAIDs are widely |
| cause lasting damage. Aspirin is a locally irritating, | | | | misunderstood. For example, while numbing pain, |
| corrosive substance, which when used for a long | | | | acetaminophen does not help stiffness or |
| time or in high doses can increase the likelihood of | | | | inflammation. However, many consumers admit to |
| developing peptic ulcers in the lower part of the | | | | consuming acetaminophen for this purpose. |
| esophagus, the stomach or the beginning of the | | | | Another primary group, the elderly, consume pain |
| small intestine. Aspirin also causes bleeding in the | | | | medicines without realizing that they now have |
| stomach and over time, can weaken the body's | | | | reduced renal clearance of NSAIDs and require |
| ability to slow and contain bleeding thoughout the | | | | appropriately reduced doses. |
| body. Taking aspirin for as little as three days can | | | | |