The
“We treat people, not just problems.”
John L. Pfenninger, M.D.
(989) 631-4545
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Web site at: MPCenter.net
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, 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.
Copyright, 2011. John L. Pfenninger, M.D.
Asp Pt Ed jw11/10