Pain-killers: The power of a pill

Pain-killers: The power of a pill

Scientists keep discovering new benefits of this common painkiller

“Take two aspirin and call me in the morning” has long been doctors’ advice for headaches and minor pains. But a profusion of recent research shows that the painkiller that’s been used for more than 80 years may be good for more than headaches. The new findings suggest that aspirin may also help prevent heart attacks, certain types of cancers, and pregnancy-induced hypertension.

In its regular form, aspirin is an analgesic – a painkilling drug – available without a prescription to treat headaches, menstrual cramps, and muscle aches. It works by reducing the production of certain hormon-like chemicals, called prostoglandins, that can be responsible for inflammation, pain, fever or clumping of blood platelets. Because of its anti-inflammatory effects, aspirin is also effective in treating joint pain and muscle stiffness caused by certain types of arthritis. The non-narcotic drug can be used as well to reduce fever, so it is often an ingredient in cold medicines.

Of all of aspirin’s prophylactic powers, its role in combating heart attacks has received the most attention. Bu preventing platelets in the blood from sticking together, aspirin has been shown to decrease the chance of having a heart attack. And, by preventing clots from forming in the blood-stream, it can reduce the severity of a heart attack once it’s under way. Indeed, in a recent Harvard University study, healthy middle-aged male doctors who took as aspirin every other day on a continuing bases were 44 percent less likely to have a first heart attack than doctors who took a sugar pill as a placebo. But the aspirin takers showed no decline in overall cardiovascular deaths and only a slight increase in the risk of hemorrhagic strikes. The benefits of low-dose aspirin for women’s cardiovascular health are not yet known.

When taken within hours after a heart attack, aspirin can be a life-saving treatment. Heart attack sufferers who took aspirin after the attack began decreased their chance of dying in the following weeks by nearly 25 percent, a recent study found. Based on these findings, a group of doctors recently petitioned the Food and Drug Administration to approve aspirin as standard treatment for patients suffering from the acute stages of a heart attack. The FDA’s Office of Drug Evaluation has recommended approval, but a final decision is pending.

When aspirin is taken in small doses on a daily basis, it has also been shown to reduce a pregnant woman’s risk of suffering from high blood pressure and of delivering a premature baby of low birth weight. However, there is no evidence that aspirin can reduce high blood pressure among people who aren’t pregnant. For reasons not yet understood, it is only when a woman is pregnant that the drug appears to help keep blood pressure down. All these findings are still preliminary, however, and no pregnant woman should take aspirin without consulting her doctor first.

Migraine sufferers not only use aspirin to relieve headaches, but according to a large-scale study of middle-aged men who took aspirin every other day, aspirin can also reduce the frequency of migraines. That study found the men who took the aspirin reduced by 20 percent their chances of getting a migraine episode. When blood platelets clump together in the brain, they may release serotonin, a neurochemical linked to triggering migraines. Aspirin may stop the clumping, and, in turn, diminish the frequency of migraines.

Researchers have also found that those who take an aspirin tablet daily are less likely to contract colon, rectum and possibly stomach cancer. Some tumors produce prostaglandins, which scientists believe are required for a cancer to grow. Aspirin works by stopping the production of prostaglandins, preventing tumors from growing.

Where tumors do exist, aspirin may cause them to bleed, leading to earlier diagnoses.

For those who suffer from certain types of senility, such as senile dementia, doctors sometimes prescribe daily doses of aspirin because it helps prevent blockage of blood vessels in the brain. When aspirin is given to those suffering from dementia, it appears to reduce the chances of having mini-strokes, which in turn can cause dementia. This research is very preliminary, however.

Always consult a doctor before taking aspirin as a preventive measure; aspirin’s benefits many be many, but there are side effects to take into account. Hearing impairment, stomach problems, excessive bleeding, and complications of pregnancy may occur in those who take aspirin too heavily. Aspirin may also increase the risk of stroke caused by bleeding in the brain.

When a such child is involved, never give aspirin except under close medical supervision, because there is a slight risk of contracting Reye’s Syndrome, a rare brain and liver disorder. Instead, children should be given aspirin alternatives such as Tylenol.

Pain-killers help. Photo by Elena

What to Take When Aspirin Is Off-Limits

Acetaminophin: Tylenol is the most common brand name for this organic compound. The drug reduces pain and fever without the stomach irritation, bleeding, indigestion, and nausea that can occur with aspirin. It is also a more effective fever-fighter than aspirin for children. Since it doesn’t slow blood clotting, acetaminophen is also the best nonprescription painkiller for patients before and after surgery women who are pregnant, and people who have an allergy to aspirin. Acetaminophen does not, however, reduce inflammation or possess any of the powers of aspirin to fight heart attacks and strokes. Keep in mind also that it is dangerous to mix acetaminophen with alcohol and that high doses can cause liver damage.

Aleve: Also called naproxen sodium, Aleve is an anti-inflammatory effective in reducing pain and fever. Gentler on the stomach than aspirin, it became popular as a treatment for menstrual cramps. Because Aleve provides relief for 8 to 12 hours, longer than most over-the-counter pain-killers, it may be a good choice for arthritis sufferers. Precautions are the same as for aspirin and ibuprofen.

Ibuprofen: Found in over-the-counter medicines such as Advil and Motrin, it is stronger than aspirin and acetaminophen, yet easier on the stomach than aspirin. It relieves pain, fever, and inflammation, and is often taken to relieve the discomfort of menstrual cramps. It lacks aspirin’s bloodclot-fighting cardiovascular benefits, however, and should be avoided by people susceptible to asthma, high bllod pressure, heart or kidney disease, and cirrhosis, as well as those taking lithium or diuretics. If you have a cold, take ibuprofen with a decongestant instead of an over-the-counter cold medicine, which generally contains fewer pain relief ingredients and costs more.

Buffered Pills: Many pain relievers come in buffered form. The coating makes pills easier to swallow and easier on the stomach than tablets, but it slows down the absorption of the pain-killer, so relief takes longer. Time-released capsules of Aleve are best suited for low-level continuing pain, such as muscle soreness. Never take more than one type of pain reliever at a time, unless instructed by your doctor.