An Aspirin A Day

America has become a "quick fix" country. We are told everyday on television to take some type of medication for "Menstrual Cramps? Take Midol! for "Backache?" Take Doan's Pills! for "Stomach Ache?" Take Pepto Bismol!"  VERY IGNORANT SUGGESTIONS!

But lately, there has been a new story in the health field, a medical "breakthrough". "An aspirin-a-day may help in reducing the risk of heart disease". Does an aspirin a day keep the doctor away? Is aspirin a safe drug?  Learn what an aspirin is and what it does and come to your own conclusion.

First, as you know, aspirin is an over the counter drug.What you may not know is that if aspirin were to be discovered today, it would likely require a prescription to get it. It's simply that strong. Aspirin has several effects on the body, but it is an ANALGESIC. That means it reduces or eliminates the body's perception of pain. It does so by releasing chemicals that "trick" the brain into believing that the cause of the pain is gone, which of course, it is NOT. So, as you can read, taking aspirin for symptom relief may keep the doctor away for a while, but your body could build up a tolerance to aspirin and you'll then need something stronger. Then you can go onto PRESCRIPTION drugs.

Aspirin is also an anti-pyretic. This means that it reduces a fever. It has chemical properties which tell the brain to decrease he body's temperature. Did you know that the body raises it's temperature for a reason? Harmful bacteria can not thrive 100 degrees, so the body raises it's temperature to kill the bacteria naturally, and without drugs. But we, in our infinite wisdom, take aspirin to kill to lower a fever (and penicillin to kill the bacteria).

What else aspirin does to the body? Aspirin is an acid. It's chemical name is acetylsalicylic acid. Because it is an acid, it often eats through the stomach's protective lining. So aspirin can, and does cause upset stomach's and if taken frequently, bleeding ulcers, No problem, you've got Tylenol, and Pepto Bismol.

Aspirin also thins the blood. That is the main reason M.D.'s say it's "good" for the heart. A thinner blood decreases the work load on the heart and lowers the chance of heart disease and it also decreases the chance of stroke by not allowing blood clots to form. Unfortunately, a thinner blood also means that the platelets, the blood clotting cells, are diminished, meaning that wounds heal slowly, and you bleed longer. Sadly, that bleeding ulcer may not heal, but they've got lots of "good" prescription drugs for ulcers.

So, what good is aspirin then. Does it cure headaches, back pain and heart disease? OF COURSE NOT! To cure something, it's cause must be eliminated. All drugs, not matter what the name, only relieve the symptoms. They seldom remove the cause of the problem. Sometimes, such as in a severe accident, or for surgical purposes, drugs are needed. But in most cases, there is a better more natural and less harmful way to obtain lasting relief. Despite the facts that aspirin is harmful, and that many medications have serious side effects, you will still go to your medicine cabinet and get temporary relief by covering up your symptoms, rather than finding the cause of your problem and getting lasting relief.

But, why take drugs when you don't have to? Drugs make unhealthy people think they are healthy because they are free of symptoms. Don't go another day before you discover the CAUSE of your symptoms and see if there is a better and safer way of eliminating them.

An aspirin a day may keep the doctor away today, but tomorrow, .... well, beware!

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