Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) is a medication for treating pain, fever, and inflammation. The use of aspirin may vary depend on its doses. Aspirin can treat the pain or fever in 500mg dose and treat rheumatoid arthritis in 1300mg dose. In addition, aspirin acts also as antiplatelet medicine which can reduce the risk of clots forming in the blood. When there is a cut in the blood vessel, platelet will detect the damaged area and form a blood clot to plug the damaged area until the blood vessels heal. If the clots plug into the small vessel, it will cause the surrounding area can’t get the blood supply, oxygen, and nutrient so they will die. To prevent this condition, aspirin is usually prescribed as antiplatelet medicine in a low dose which means the dose of aspirin is 75mg. Here are 7 health benefits of low-dose aspirin as medicine:
1. Aspirin prevents the recurrent heart attack.
If you had a heart attack before, you should take low-dose aspirin regularly to prevent the recurrent heart attack. The blood clotting can happen in the vessels that supply your heart. If your heart vessels are already narrowed from atherosclerosis (plaque builds up in arteries) in the previous heart attack, the blood clot can quickly form and block the vessels. The health benefits of low-dose aspirin are needed here to reduce the clumping action of platelet so the recurrent heart attack can be prevented.
2. Aspirin prevents a recurrent stroke.
Similar to heart attack, blood clotting can happen in the vessels that supply the brain. If this condition happens, the brain cells have no blood supply and will die. It causes a stroke. The health benefits of low-dose aspirin are not only for preventing a recurrent stroke but also for preventing the stroke that will occur if you have some risk factors such as hypertension, smoking, or high cholesterol.
3. Aspirin is given after vascular operation.
The health benefits of low-dose aspirin after the vascular operation are needed to maintain the blood flow within vascular. After the vascular operation, the chance of blood clot forming in the operation area is high. Low dose aspirin is needed to be prescribed to prevent the complication further.
4. Aspirin for high cholesterol.
Cholesterol can build up the fatty deposits within arteries. If this is allowed to continue, a fatty deposit in the vessels lining can burst and damage the surrounding area. This will form the blood clot in the damaged area and bring the complications. Therefore, aspirin is usually prescribed for people who have high cholesterol to prevent the complication happen, especially heart attack complication which often occurs.
5. Aspirin for high blood pressure.
The health benefits of low-dose aspirin for high blood pressure condition are similar to high cholesterol. Aspirin is taken because high blood pressure is one of the risk factors in heart attack or stroke condition. When you have the high blood pressure, your vessels may narrower and come to stiffness. These conditions make the blood clotting is easy to form and cause the heart attack or stroke in the brain.
6. Aspirin for diabetes patient.
Diabetes brings a lot of complication for the heart, brain, kidney, and many other organs. One of the complications or conditions that often occur in diabetes is atherosclerosis. As explained above, atherosclerosis makes the blood clot formed quickly. Therefore, the health benefits of low-dose aspirin in diabetes patient can prevent the further complication of diabetes.
7. Aspirin is needed for people who had a stent placed in their coronary artery.
Although you have already put a stent in your coronary arteries to prevent recurrent heart attack, you need to take low-dose aspirin still. It is important to make sure that there is no blood clotting formation in previous vessels or in another one.
7 health benefits of low-dose aspirin as medicine have been explained above. You should know that treatment with aspirin is usually take for life and you should consume it under the proper prescription.
Be careful of the warning and side effects of aspirin daily used. You should not take the aspirin if you have these health conditions such as:
- peptic ulcer
- bleeding disorder
- asthma
- uncontrolled high blood pressure
- hemorrhoids
- elevating in the liver function.
The pregnant women can take this medicine if it is suggested by the doctor with a tight supervision. Consult your doctor if you have any side effects of taking aspirin such as:
- indigestion
- vomiting
- allergic reaction
- stomachache
- bleeding in the stomach
- tinnitus
- unwanted bleeding in areas of your body
- difficulty in breathing
Aspirin has the interaction with many other medicines. Always ask your pharmacist or GP before you take this drug. If you forget to take your daily dose of aspirin, take that dose as soon as you remember and skip the missed dose. Do not take the double dose to replace the missed one.