How does aspirin work?

Aspirin is a drug that has been around since 1897, and it’s still one of the most commonly used drugs in the world. You might know it as acetylsalicylic acid, because apparently someone thought that name sounded cool. If you’ve ever had a headache or fever or inflammation, chances are you’ve taken aspirin to feel better.

A Brief History Of Aspirin

Before we dig into how aspirin works, let’s take a moment to appreciate its origins. In ancient times, people used willow bark (source of salicin) to help relieve pain and reduce fever. It wasn’t until the 19th century that scientists isolated salicylic acid from willow bark and studied its effects on health.

Creating Salicylates From Willow Bark

Salicylic acid was great for relieving pain and reducing fevers but had some side effects like stomach irritation primarily due to its acidic nature; hence finding an alternative became crucial

The Active Ingredient In Aspirin

The active ingredient in aspirin is acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) which came about after attempts at chemical modifications of Salicylate(acid) failed to yield desirable results.

Chemical Structure Of ASA

Asa-Chemical_Structure.png

If structures make sense when you look at them then this looks familiar? That’s right – ASA is made up of both Salicylate(acid) with Acetyl functional group added onto it.

So what makes Acetylated Salcylicate(Acetylsalcyilate Acid/ASA) stand out? by changing(to be specific adding an Acetate functional group)makes all the difference as now ‘stomach friendly’.

Academic research shows acetic acids attach to proteins causing fewer stomach irritations meaning that we now get to experience the pain, fever-reducing and anti-inflammatory benefits without unpleasant side effects.

How Does Aspirin Work In The Body?

Blocking Prostaglandins

When our body’s damaged tissues release chemicals called prostaglandins. They cause inflammation – blood vessels widen in response to this – which helps engage white blood cells needed for healing but too much of a good thing becomes poisonous.

You know how your skin gets red and swollen when it’s cut or burned? That’s your immune system sending white blood cells and other molecules to fight off infection or protect from further injury while increasing circulation in the region of tissue damage.

Aspirin prevents COXI (enzymes involved in turning Arachidonic acid) into natural prostanoid signaling molecules. By inhibiting COXI, prostaglandins are not produced. As a result, there is less inflammatory response as well as fewer compounds on the nerve endings producing sensations(the fever).

These lessened reactions will block some gene expression required for repair hence why doctors don’t recommend you taking yes many aspirin per day

Decreasing Blood Clotting

If someone has trouble with clotting too quickly where its not necessary at rest- they can be prone heart attacks  and strokes aka cardiovascular events; Doctors might suggest baby aspirin(81mg Aspirin) daily -because regular would still lead lead gastrointestinal bleeding such as an ulcer.

By preventing platelets clumping together(pro-occlusive), ASA thwarts excessive formation of clots that could block arteries thus leading eventually heart & brain damages.

To put simply “ASA stops until next pill””);

Preventing Cancer DevelopmentIn certain scenarios’

Regular consumption of low-levels (‘baby aspirin’)has been found to lower risks(that’s right CHEMISTRY STRIKES AGAIN)

Let’s talk about how? This happens when salicylates in aspirin inhibits cyclo-oxygenase (COX-2), an enzyme often found more active in cancer cells.

That signals cells to commit suicide, via a process called apoptosis; limiting growth and enhancing chances of the body coping.

Side Effects Of Aspirin

You may think that because Aspirin is such a widely used medicine, it must be entirely safe. While for most people this probably true, there are still precautions worth observing.

Allergy

Some individuals might react unfavorably if experiencing respiratory problems(noticeable reactions are hives) after taking this medication.

Bleeding Dysfunctions

Prolonged excessive bleeding cases from cuts, injuries or operations occur due to possible irritated gastric wall hence blood loss becomes extensive

That’s it!

So these properties give us causes for caution but on balance – pills like aspirins remain one of the great medical discoveries.

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