Popular PainKiller "Aspirin" and what you should know about it

Aspirin is used to relieve mild to moderate pain. It has excellent anti-inflammatory properties and reduces fever, redness and swelling.

You may know someone who takes aspirin on a regular basis, even in the absence of symptoms. They do this because aspirin has a unique property. It prevents blood from clotting and is useful against conditions that are caused by or aggravated by clotting blood, such as heart attack or stroke. However, do not take aspirin for this purpose without medical supervision, the absence of proper blood clotting can lead to uncontrolled bleeding from minor wounds.

Aspirin is no longer given to children and teenagers after the discovery of Reye's syndrome, a rare but serious reaction to aspirin following its use in treating pediatric viral illnesses.

The most common side effect of aspirin is upset stomach or indigestion, from irritation of the tissue that lines the stomach. This may lead to wounds and bleeding. Persons with a history of peptic ulcer or bleeding anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract should avoid aspirin. Vomiting and nausea may also occur.

other considerations:

• If you have diabetes, regular use of eight or more regular strength tablets a day may affect your test results for urine sugar.
• If you had oral surgery or your tonsils removed in the last 7 days, do nut use aspirin in chewable form or as effervescent tablets, or aspirin in crushed tablets or gargles.
• Breat feeding mothers, those with a known aspirin allergy or bleeding disorder, those taking blood thinners (anticoagulants) and children who have mild viral symptoms should not be given aspirin.
• Persons with G6PD deficiency should not take aspirin. When they do, their red blood cells break down, resulting in a severe form of anemia.

See a doctor immediately if the following are observed after the use of aspirin:

• Rashes
• Wheezing or difficulty breathing
• Dramatic swelling of the face and mouth
• Ringing in the ears, loss of hearing
• Bloody or black stools
• Dizziness
• Mental confusion, drowsiness