Aspirin - Headache Medication and Treatment

For over 2,500 years, some form of aspirin has been used in the treatment of pain. The bark of a willow tree was used to create an extract to treat fever by 5th century B.C. physician, Hippocrates. This extract is known as salacin, which converts to salicylic acid in the human body.

At the end of the 19th century, this chemical was mass produced as acetylsalicylic acid, or aspirin, by the German company, Bayer. This product, which was developed by a chemist named Felix Hoffman, has been one of the greatest medicinal developments the world has ever known.

For such a simple molecule it has some of the most amazing properties in the biochemical world.

Aspirin is one of the most versatile drugs on the market and has very few side effects. Conditions that can be successfully treated with aspirin include inflammation, fever, headaches, and heart disease. There is still some unknowns in the way aspirin does it's job. Prostaglandins are released when there is an injury to the body. This is what sends the message of pain to the nerve cells in the brain. What happens after this is somewhat of a mystery.

Prostglandins are also responsible for initiating the swelling process when an injury occurs. There are still some unknowns as far as how we perceive this as pain. Usually, there is no injury involved in the case of a headache.

Muscle tension in the neck, back, and face have always been blamed as the cause of tension headaches. However, more recent studies have shown that is probably not the case. Research points to the interaction of serotonin (a neurotransmitter) with nerve cells as a more likely cause. Muscle tension is still involved, only less than previously thought.

Basically, aspirin prevents the cells from producing prostaglandins. It joins with the enzyme called COX, which is required to produce prostaglandins. When this happens, the enzymes are filtered by the kidneys before they have a chance to do their job.

One of the drawbacks to taking aspirin is that it sometimes irritates the stomach. It does this by making the lining too thin by removing the prostaglandins. This stomach irritation can show up as an upset stomach, or even ulcers. Aspirin may also cause problems for people whose blood does not clot properly. The reduced production of prostaglandins also makes the blood thinner, which makes clotting more difficult.

If not taken correctly, it is possible to overdose on aspirin, just like any other drug. The effects, however, are not the same as other overdoses. Excess quantities of aspirin can interfere with proper kidney function. For those who may have a problem with this, drug companies have come up with several alternatives, such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and naproxen.

Aspirin has been used to treat headaches for hundreds of years, and will probably continue to be. Even with the documented side effects, millions of people use aspirin safely each year. This can be a very effective form of headache treatment if it is used as directed.

         

Introduction to Headaches

Causes of Headaches
Diagnosing Headaches
Common Headache Symptoms
Who is At Risk of Suffering from Headaches?

Headaches Guide and Info

Seeking Medical Advice for Headaches
Pregnancy Headaches Causes, Symptoms and Treatments
Migraine Symptoms, Causes and Treatments
Cluster Headaches Symptoms, Causes and Treatments
Sinus Headaches Causes and Treatments
Tension Headaches Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

Headaches Treatment and Medication

Triptans Migraines Treatment and Medication
Ergots and Midrin for Migraines Treatment
Headaches Treatment - Surgery vs Drugs
Acetaminophen – Headache Medication and Treatment
Brand Name vs Generic Medication – Headache Treatments
Ibuprofen Headache Medication and Treatment
Headaches Preventive Medications and Treatments
How to Control Headaches Symptoms