Pain relief

Chemically, aspirin is known as the compound acetylsalicylic acid (ASA). It fights pain and inflammation by blocking enzymes called cyclooxygenase, or COX. When this enzyme is blocked, the body is less able to produce prostaglandins, which are chemicals that cause inflammation, swelling and pain. Blocking prostaglandins lessens the pain felt from an injury or body ache. Aspirin does not heal the underlying problem (i.e., the wound itself). 

Blood clot prevention

Certain prostaglandins also are involved in the action of platelets, which are necessary to form blood clots. Aspirin also blocks these prostaglandins. Therefore, aspirin belongs to a group of drugs called antiplatelets. These are non-habit-forming medications that prevent the formation of blood clots by decreasing the ability of the platelets to bind together (platelet aggregation). By helping to prevent blood clots, aspirin helps to prevent blockages in the arteries that can trigger a heart attack.

One type of prostaglandin, thromboxane, is known to be particularly affected by aspirin. Even small doses of aspirin completely stop its production. Research has shown that taking one baby aspirin (81 milligrams) a day for 10 days successfully reduced thromboxane levels. While the platelets were still able to “plug” a wound so the person did not bleed to death, the platelets were less “sticky” and therefore less likely to form blood clots. For up to 10 days after a person discontinued aspirin use, its effects were still obvious.

Heart disease prevention

By helping to prevent blood clots, aspirin helps maintain adequate blood flow through the arteries, thus lowering the risk of a heart attack in both men and women. Furthermore, aspirin has been found to reduce the damage of a current or past heart attack if taken either during or immediately after the attack. This is an important finding, since some studies have shown that less than 80 percent of heart attack patients receive aspirin. 

Along the same lines, aspirin may be used under a physician’s guidance to help in the treatment of certain types of chest pain, pressure or discomfort called angina. Aspirin therapy has also been shown to be beneficial for patients who are undergoing angioplasty or coronary bypass surgery or have experienced atrial fibrillation.