Chapters authored
Therapeutic Uses of Aspirin
Aspirin, also known as acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to reduce pain, fever, and/or inflammation and as an antithrombotic agent. The specific inflammatory conditions under which aspirin is used for treatment include many different diseases. Lower doses of aspirin have also been indicated to decrease the risk of loss of life from a heart strike or the risk of stroke in people who are at high risk or who have cardiovascular illness but not in elderly people who are healthy. Recent research suggests that aspirin may help prevent the development of cancerous tumors, such as those of the stomach, intestines, or even the breast. However, although aspirin is considered a “good” medicine for the prevention and treatment of many diseases, doctors recommend that no one should take aspirin without a doctor’s approval because taking it is not only unsafe for all people but can also interact with other medicines and cause harm. The most useful therapeutic properties of aspirin depend on its ability to inhibit prostaglandin formation. Along with interfering with thromboxane production, aspirin inhibits the synthesis of prostaglandins. In a normal environment, thromboxane and prostacyclin are in homeostatic equilibrium, with incompatible effects on platelet aggregation and vascular action. In this chapter, the therapeutic uses of aspirin are presented.
Part of the book: Pain Management