The
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"We treat people, not just problems." |
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John L.
Pfenninger, M.D. |
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Lori Oswald,
P.A.-C. |
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(989) 631-4545 |
Visit our Website at http://www.MPCenter.net
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Aspirin |
If aspirin were discovered today, it would probably be as high-priced as
Viagra! There are so many beneficial effects and they aren’t just for pain
relief.
Aspirin is in a group of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories
(NSAID’s). It works extremely well for arthritis and various types of
inflammation. Many times when fancier, much more expensive drugs don’t work,
patients tolerate aspirin well and receive the greatest comfort at a price that
is almost a giveaway. The problem with aspirin is that it does cause stomach
ulcers in the higher dosages.
It has been known that a daily aspirin will reduce strokes and heart attacks
significantly. It is recommended that at the first sign of having angina or
heart pain that the patient should chew an aspirin immediately. Most patients
when they first enter the emergency rooms for chest pain,
are given aspirin prior to any of the other drugs. Aspirin works by reducing
the likelihood of clotting in the arteries.
A more recent finding is that the daily use of aspirin in even very low doses
such as a baby aspirin per day (¼ of an adult aspirin) reduces colon cancer by
50%. A 1999 study showed that individuals who began aspirin at the late age of
65 reduced colon cancer 47% over the next five years!
An interesting finding – aspirin may also help in cases of infertility.
Apparently blood flow is increased to the ovaries and other tissues and aids in
ovulation and having a viable pregnancy.
It remains to be shown at what age we should begin taking aspirin and dosages
have not yet been completely worked out. It would appear however that almost
any adult can tolerate a ¼ of an aspirin a day. Unless the patient is at high
risk for some other reason, most begin it at age 35.
In addition to pain relief, aspirin has been shown to markedly decrease colon
cancer, strokes, and heart attacks. After checking with your doctor, it may be
prudent to begin a regimen of a baby aspirin per day (¼ of an adult aspirin)
starting at age 35.