Can aspirin be used as an anti inflammatory?
Are you tired of feeling like a creaky, old door hinge every time you move after a workout, or even just getting out of bed in the morning? Are you looking for some relief that doesn’t involve chemical concoctions from big pharma with side effects longer than your grocery list? Aspirin might be the answer to your prayers!
What is Aspirin?
Aspirin is actually not its own substance but instead a brand name given to acetylsalicylic acid (ASA). ASA was first created in 1897 and derived from plant-based substances. Nowadays, it can be manufactured synthetically using naturally occurring ingredients such as willow bark and meadowsweet.
Used primarily as a pain reliever or fever reducer, ASA has been found particularly useful in mild to moderate headaches, menstrual cramps, toothaches, and occasional joint pain related to overexertion or simple wear-and-tear. It works by inhibiting the enzymes responsible for inflammation and subsequent pain production within our bodies.
But back up: what exactly is inflammation anyway?
Inflammation – NOT Just A Pimple Problem
Inflammation refers to the redness/swelling/warmth/pain combo we all recognize when we accidentally slam our finger in a car door (“Ow ow ow!”) Our natural response system sends blood cells carrying white blood cells (those immune little guys) directly into wherever injury occurred so they can begin cleanup work.
However! We also experience consistent low-level inflammatory states throughout our lives thanks to things like pollutants/airborne pathogens/food intolerances/stressful events/etcetera-as-many-etceteras-as-you-want-to-list-here. Sustained exposure puts heightened stress on bodily functions like digestion/metabolism/cardiovascular health which starts wearing away at everything faster than usual. This is essentially what we’re trying to avoid in the long run by decreasing our inflammation.
But Aspirin – Not Just for Headaches
As mentioned earlier, acetylsalicylic acid works by blocking certain enzymes (cyclo-oxygenases) that create inflammatory response cells such as thromboxanes and prostaglandins.
What’s encouraging about this is these types of cells not only contribute to swelling/heat/pain but also blood clotting factors – basically little guys who glue themselves together quickly when we nick ourselves. Which is great when we do happen to slice our fingers chopping veggies…but can add up over time if they build up willy-nilly within our arteries (atherosclerosis, anyone?) That’s why doctors sometimes prescribe an aspirin a day regimine! To help prevent possible cardiovascular issues caused by largely preventable components.
Plus:
- no prescription needed
- low cost
- easy-to-find at drugstores or even supermarkets!
Knock knock Who knew?
That being said, only use aspirin under the direction of your doctor 🩺 Firstly because frequent high intake could potentially cause stomach ulcers or contribute to blood thinning too much since it does lessen clotting abilities peripherally! Secondly since young children should never take it due to higher probability of developing Reye Syndrome (a very bad thing).
All this being said…
Can One Take Aspirin For General Inflammation Like Joint Pain?
We’ve established that aspirin can be used for mild-moderate headaches, menstrual cramps and toothaches; But let’s go further – can one pop some tablets specifically for joint pain related inflammation?
This gets slightly trickier than initially thought [1]. Before jumping into any practice involving medication consumption, speak with a licensed practitioner just-in-case-someone-sues-me-in-the-future-disclaimer.
Risks associated
- Risk #1: “Aspirin, being a potent antiplatelet drug and having anticoagulant property can cause bleeding if consumed without proper medical advice or in high doses.”
- Risk #2: Intestinal perforations.
- Risk #3 And suddenly they feel faint.
So basically we’ve got risks that include lots of discomfort for us + injuries to our intestines + sudden drops in blood pressure which could result in feeling momentarily dizzy might lose consciousness cuz aspirin lowered one’s blood pressure too much!
I Cannot Believe It’s Not Butter But Also…
But wait there’s more paranoia yet! Long-term use of aspirin may also heighten risk of heart disease/stroke/etcetera-and-so-on (common theme here amirite?) As well as substantial amounts used over prolonged periods should require monitoring your liver function because how our bodies metabolize the substance.
Benefits Associated
Effective at reducing swelling/general pain caused by inflammation-causing conditions such as osteoarthritis/rheumatoid arthritis/ankylosing spondylitis – Studies show aspiring works better on mild inflammation than severe one [2]
Can be beneficial when trying to lessen existing joint stiffness due to tightened swollen tissues – Still able move without complaining about an ache every time you get up from a sitting position! Huzzaah!
Overall, CONSULT WITH YOUR PRIVAT PRACTITIONER before plunging headfirst into popping daily aspirin tablets like it’s hot!!!
Hey there, I’m Dane Raynor, and I’m all about sharing fascinating knowledge, news, and hot topics. I’m passionate about learning and have a knack for simplifying complex ideas. Let’s explore together!
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