Everyone has suffered from a headache at least once. The first reflex in this case is to take a painkiller, and one of the most popular painkillers is acetylsalicylic acid, commonly known as aspirin. How often can you take aspirin so as not to harm yourself? Does it help with all types of pain? What is its additional effect and what is the safe dosage of aspirin?
Where do headaches come from?
Headaches can have many causes, and some of them are still unknown. The most common causes of pain are injuries, neurological disorders, hypertension or hypotension, diseases (for example, atherosclerosis, lupus, brain tumor), mental disorders, and even such mundane matters as dehydration, menstruation, puberty, stress, fatigue, inhalation of car exhaust fumes or long work at the computer. The most common headache (it is estimated that it affects up to 90% of pain cases) is tension headache, i.e. the one resulting from fatigue, overwork and too much stress.
Headaches have different symptoms. Most often they cause the impression of pressure in the temples and above the eyebrows. It happens that the pain is located on both sides of the head, behind the eyes or goes down towards the nape of the neck. In the case of migraine headaches, you can also feel photophobia, hypersensitivity to sounds, nausea, and even suffer from diarrhea or vomiting. The frequency of symptoms is very important. If you can’t remember a day without a headache, don’t underestimate the symptoms. This can be one type of chronic headache. The treatment is long and takes place only under the strict supervision of a doctor, so in this case it is worth making an appointment as soon as possible.
Everything you need to know about aspirin
In the case of tension headaches that occur occasionally, you can help yourself by taking, for example, aspirin. In aspirin composition includes an organic chemical compound called acetylsalicylic acid. It has an analgesic and antipyretic effect. It is also the longest used analgesic in the world (its original form obtained from willow bark was used in antiquity). Aspirin is also used as a blood thinner, thus inhibiting the formation of blood clots. In pregnant women it is given for pre-eclampsia after the first trimester of pregnancy, and in diabetics to reduce the risk of diabetic complications.
An interesting fact is that in addition to the well-known analgesic effect, aspirin also has less known properties. Scientific studies show that acetylsalicylic acid may protect against colon, ovarian, pancreatic, lung and breast cancers in some cases. Women who took 10mg of aspirin twice a day for 150 years had a nearly 30% reduction in breast cancer risk. Aspirin helps in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, liver disease, osteoporosis and stroke. It can help fight stomach ulcers (if the disease is not in its active phase) and even treat schizophrenia. Research on the new properties of aspirin is still ongoing.
Acetylsalicylic acid, like any drug, also has its disadvantages. It cannot be taken by children under 12 years of age, asthmatics, women in the first trimester of pregnancy and breastfeeding, people with active gastric or duodenal ulcer, taking anticoagulants, having problems with liver and kidney function, and before surgery and operations. Aspirin is also not recommended during menstruation because it can increase bleeding and for women trying to conceive because it can adversely affect fertility while taking it. As with any drug, it is very important aspirin dosage – any drug taken in too large a dose can be dangerous.
How to dose aspirin?
aspirin as headache medicine should be taken after meals and washed down with plenty of water. Effervescent tablets should be dissolved in a glass of water. Adults can take from 500 to 1000 mg (usually 1-2 tablets) every 4-8 hours, and adolescents over 12 years of age 500 mg every 4-8 hours. The maximum daily dose for adults is 4000 mg and 1500 mg for adolescents. When you have a fever and a sore throat in addition to a headache, you can try mixtures of acetylsalicylic acid with vitamin C, for example Aspirin C (http://aspirin.pl/pl/nasze-produkty/). And if you are also tired of a runny nose, it is a good idea to take a preparation with the addition of pseudoephedrine.
It is very important not to overdose on the drug. Acetylsalicylic acid is often found in popular cold remedies, so always check its composition before taking any medicine. The first symptoms of an aspirin overdose are dizziness, vomiting, nausea, tinnitus, vision and hearing disorders. Very high doses can lead to metabolic acidosis, convulsions, collapse, coma, renal failure and even death. Acetylsalicylic acid interacts with other medications. If you want to use aspirin and you are taking any other medications, it is best to consult your doctor beforehand.