1. While no one person invented aspirin, the origin of aspirin as we know itcame about through research.Who invented ASPIRIN and what is its history?Aspirin discovery was actually the result of the work of several aspirininventors.The effects of aspirin-like substances have been known since the ancientGreeks recorded the use of the willow bark as a fever fighter.

2. In the 1700s, the scientist Reverend Edmund Stone wrote about thesuccess of the bark and the willow in the cure of the "agues," or feverswith aches.One of the first and most influential physicians, Hippocrates, wroteabout a bitter powder extracted from willow bark that could ease achesand pains and reduce fevers as long ago as the fifth century B.C.With a bit of chemical detective work, scientistsfound out that the part of willow bark that was(1) bitter and (2) good for fever and pain is achemical known as salicin.White Willow Tree 3. This chemical can be converted (changed) by the body after it is eaten to anotherchemical, salicylic acid.It was a pharmacist known as Leroux who showed in 1829 that salicin is this activewillow ingredient.For many years the salicylic acid (made from salicin for the first time by Italianchemist Piria), and close relatives were used at high doses to treat pain andswelling in diseases like arthritis and to treat fever in illnesses like influenza (flu).salicylic acid molecule 4. The problem with these chemicals was that they upset the users stomach fairlybadly.One of these people was a German man named Hoffmann.His arthritis was pretty bad, but he just couldnt "stomach"his salicylic acid.Felix HoffmannEnter this mans son, German chemist FelixHoffmann, who worked for a chemical company knownas Friedrich Bayer & Co.In fact, some people had bleeding in their digestive tracts from the highdoses of these chemicals needed to control pain and swelling. 5. Felix wanted to find a chemical that wouldnt be so hard on his dads stomachlining; reasoning that salicylic acid may be irritating because it is an acid, he putthe compound through a couple of chemical reactions that covered up one of theacidic parts with an acetyl group, converting it to acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)acetylsalicylic acid molecule 6. He finished his initial studies in 1897, and his employers didnt pay muchattention to it because it was new and they were cautious -- they didnt think ithad been tested enough.By 1899, though, one of Bayers top chemists, a scientistnamed Heinrich Dreser, had finished demonstrating theusefulness of the potent new medicine and even gave ita new name:Felix Hoffmann found that ASA not only could reduce fever and relieve pain andswelling, but it was better for the stomach and worked even better than salicylicacid. Unfortunately, Hoffmann had to wait for fame. 7. The Bayer company could then support the tested medicine.They spread the word and marketed the new pill widely. 8. Have you ever had a headache?Chances are you have; almost all of us do once in a while.And chances are you took some kind of medicine to ease your headache.That medicine was most likely a relative of aspirin. 9. Aspirin is an ideal drug because it eliminates pain throughthe suppression of chemical processes within the body. 10. Aspirin inhibits prostaglandin production by inhibiting the COX-2 enzyme.Aspirin molecules attach themselves to COX-2 enzymes.This binding action blocks the enzyme from creating chemical reactions.When no chemical reactions are produced, messages cannot be transmittedalong the neuropath ways that ask for the prostaglandin production.With the action of prostaglandin in check, your pain is either completelyrelieved or greatly reduced. 11. Aspirin is similarly efficient as paracetamolon trivial acute pain such as: Headache Dental Pain Cold 12. You may also have taken aspirin or itsrelatives for other problems, such asinflammation (swelling of joints or other parts ofthe body) or fever.Knee join pain Hand join swelling Low back pain Fever 13. But did you know that about 80 billion aspirin tablets aretaken per year for these problems, as well as manyothers?It is also used for chronic states of pain, e.g. for cancerpatients and (in high doses) for rheumatic fever.In small doses (30 to 300 mg/day) aspirin serves in the prevention ofthromboembolic angiopathies.Its use is well documented as a secondary prophylaxisfor coronary heart disease (after a myocardial infarctionor a bypass operation), after transient ischemic attacksand cerebrovascular accidents and for peripheralocclusive arterial disease.Coronary Heart Disease 14. Persons over 50 years of age with cardiovascular risk factors; Persons with atrial fibrillation who have a contraindication for anticoagulants. In pre-eclampsia prophylaxis the effect of aspirin is marginal. Children with Kawasakis disease initially receive high and later low aspirin doses.The following subjects also benefit from small doses of aspirin: 15. Aspirin is recommended to prevent the risk of heart attack 16. Nausea Upset stomach Heartburn VomitAspirin can also changes the way your kidneys make urine, can cause some peopleto have trouble breathing (rarely), and can be dangerous at very high doses.Aspirin also isnt used as much for fevers in children since research has suggestedthat aspirin given to kids with flu, chicken pox, or other viral sicknesses maycause a potentially deadly problem called Reye syndrome.Just like all medicines, aspirin may cause side effects, but manypeople have no, or minor, side effects.The most COMMON side effects when using Aspirin are: 17. Is an aspirin a day the right thing for you?Its not as easy a decision as it sounds.Know the benefits and risks before considering daily aspirin therapy.Although taking an occasional aspirin or two is safe for most adults to use forheadaches, body aches or fever, daily use of aspirin can have serious sideeffects, including internal bleeding.You should consider daily aspirin therapy only if youve had a heart attack orstroke, or you have a high risk of either.And then, only take aspirin with your doctors approval. 18. References:http://www.aspirin.comhttp://www.wonderdrug.com/wonders_aspirin.htmlhttp://health.howstuffworks.com/medicine/medication/aspirin.htmhttp://www.infomed.org/100drugs/aspind.htmlhttp://www.drugs.com/sfx/aspirin-side-effects.htmlhttp://www.ehow.com/how-does_4564307_aspirin-relieve-headaches.htmlhttp://www.biodigital.com/Soundtrack:Voyage by Yanni Album Truth of TouchCreated by: Ishteyaq Al-SubhiReem Al-MehdawiGhayda SemsemDate: March 29, 2011