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According to a Spanish first aid specialist, we should all have a certain medicine as standard. It is used less and less often, while it can be of vital importance in acute situations.
It used to be in almost every medicine cabinet, but now many people have forgotten it. And that can have serious consequences.
Aspirin as a life savior
Every second counts with a heart attack. The body then often forms a blood clot that blocks the blood supply to the heart. A simple agent that can in many cases offer directly lighting is aspirin. It inhibits the clumping of platelets, which means that the clot is less likely or can even partially dissolve.
The Spanish Miguel Assal, experienced specialist and trainer of emergency department, explains in a viral Tiktok video how important aspirin can be with a suspected infarction. He explains how aspirin acts on the blood and advises to immediately chew half a tablet (250-300 mg) in an emergency. “By chewing it it ends up in your bloodstream faster than when you swallow it in its entirety,” says Assal.
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Dr. Jan Otto Landman is a general practitioner at the Costa del Sol and regularly shares medical insights through columns His website for Dutch holidaymakers and expats. He also wrote about the (preventive) Aspirin functioning in cardiovascular disease. “Aspirin inhibits the clumping of platelets and thus reduces the chance of repeating a brain or heart attack by around 40%,” he writes on his medical blog.
How do you use it correctly?
Assal recommends chewing half aspirin (250-300 mg) in the event of symptoms of an infarction, such as chest pain, radiating pain to arm or jaw, or suddenly sweating. “By chewing it it ends up in your bloodstream faster than when you swallow it in its entirety,” he explains. Then call 112 immediately.
Not suitable for everyone
Note: This is a higher dosage (250-300 mg) for emergencies, while aspirin for daily or preventive use in cardiovascular diseases is often prescribed in a lower dose (30-100 mg).
According to Dr. Landman is a lot of confusion about aspirin: “Many people think that paracetamol is also aspirin. No, aspirin is acetylsalicylic acid, paracetamol is very different.” He also points to possible side effects of aspirin, such as stomach complaints and bleeding. That does not make the medicine suitable for everyone. “People with an allergy to acetylsalicylic acid, an increased risk of stomach bleeding or existing stomach ulcers must be careful”.
Other commonly used drugs such as ibuprofen and paracetamol therefore have no similar effect on an infarction. They fight the pain, but do nothing against blood clots.
Origin Aspirin
Aspirin has a long history that goes back to 2000 BC, when brews of willow leaves were already used against pain and inflammation. In 1763 the Englishman Edmund Stone described the analgesic effect of willow bark. In the end, Acetylsalicylic acid was developed from this natural source, which was marketed by Bayer as ‘Aspirin’ in 1899. As Dr. Landman writes: “From a simple painkiller, Aspirin has grown into an all -rounder.”
Long -term use and prevention
Dr. Landman writes that aspirin is prescribed worldwide to people with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. A low dose not only reduces the chance of repeating an infarction, but there are also indications that it reduces the risk of certain types of cancer. “For example, patients who swallowed a low dose for heart vessel prevention survived twice as long cancer of the gastrointestinal tract than patients who did not take aspirin,” says Landman in his blog.
Why does aspirin disappear from the medicine cabinet?
Assal experiences in his daily practice that many people nowadays no longer have aspirin. This may be because there is less attention for health information, pharmacists rather provide other means or due to fear of side effects. Yet his advice is clear: “A simple aspirin in your medicine cabinet can save your life.”
Sources: 20Minutos, Dr. Jan Otto Landman
