Taking aspirin on a regular basis at a low dose may help to prevent a heart attack. Additionally taking aspirin in low doses at the time of a heart attack may help prevent further damage or muscle death. Cardiac events extend beyond the traditional heart attack; it also includes transient ischemic attacks and strokes. Aspirin taken under these premises acts as an anti-platelet drug; it prevents platelets from sticking to one another. The chemical process of aspirin involves a rather complex pathway in the body; here it is explained in a basic format.
The Heart Attack and Platelets
Heart attacks can be caused by many different mechanisms but the bottom line is platelets have clumped together in an attempt to repair a damaged blood vessel and formed a clot (a group of platelets) which lodges inside of a vessel supplying blood to the heart muscle. If the platelets are prevented from adhering to one another the chances of a clot forming again are lessened. This is not to say that you will never get a clot because you are on aspirin.
How Aspirin Works in the Heart
Aspirin works by inhibiting the production of thromboxane A2. Thromboxane A2 is produced when platelets are summoned to repair a damaged blood vessel. When thromboxane is produced more platelets are activated and this promotes platelet aggregation (clumping or gathering). By inhibiting the production of other enzymes and prostaglandins elements such as fibrin (the stringy mesh of a clot) are unable to bind to the receptors of the platelets and this prevents clot formation.
Aspirin Administration
Aspirin used as a preventative measure can be swallowed. In an emergent situation, the use of chewable baby aspirin is preferred because it gets in your system more rapidly. When the aspirin is chewed in your mouth it is absorbed directly into the blood stream via the membranes and capillaries in your mouth. It is imperative to get the aspirin in quickly to benefit from the anti-platelet actions. The dose of preventative aspirin ranges from 81mg to 325mg daily. In an emergent situation additional doses may be given.
Side Effects of Aspirin
Prior to initiating the use of aspirin on a daily basis you should always consult with your physician first and discuss the potential interactions of already prescribed medications, diet, and possible complications. The most common complication of aspirin administration is bleeding. This is because if you are bleeding externally or internally aspirin has blocked the full effect of platelets to bind together hence delayed control of bleeding.
Additional side effects of aspirin are:
- Dark tarry stools
- Ringing in your ears
- Stomach pain
- Heart burn
In conclusion the use of aspirin has a scientific basis for use. You should always consult with your healthcare practitioner about any medical condition. This information is for educational purposes only and in no way is a substitute for physician care.
