People who have persistently high blood pressure often ask their doctor whether aspirin increases blood pressure and whether it can be taken without restrictions.
Most often, acetylsalicylic acid is used as an effective antipyretic and analgesic. And few people know that aspirin also lowers blood pressure.
Many patients do not even connect their blood pressure readings with the effectiveness of this drug. This is a big mistake. Thus, in a hypotensive person who has taken aspirin, the pressure may drop to critical levels, worsening his well-being.
The drug itself began to be used in the 19th century to treat diseases such as gout and rheumatism. And only in recent years the drug began to be used in cardiological practice, namely, its ability to lower blood pressure.
Mechanism of action
Aspirin, a typical representative of the group of non-steroidal drugs. The active ingredient of the drug is acetylsalicylic acid. The drug has an analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic effect. Experts began to use aspirin in cardiology due to its characteristic feature: the ability to prevent platelet aggregation.
Many sources write that Aspirin is a drug that can thin the blood. In fact, acetylsalicylic acid does not affect its viscosity. Under the influence of acid, one of the platelet enzymes, cyclooxygenase, is blocked. It is responsible for the formation of thromboxane A, without which platelet adhesion does not occur. The medicine also stops the work of another cell aggregation factor, prostacyclin. Reducing the ability of platelets to stick together prevents the formation of blood clots.
After taking aspirin, the effect lasts for quite a long time. After all, irreversible inhibition of enzyme activity occurs. The ability to bond is returned to the cells only after the synthesis of new platelets.
Properties of the drug
To understand what effect the drug has on blood pressure, whether it can increase or decrease, it is important to know its properties. Aspirin is a non-steroidal non-narcotic analgesic that has anti-inflammatory properties. Acetylsalicylic acid has an antipyretic, analgesic and antiaggregation effect on the body. This is due to the ability of aspirin to suppress the activity of enzymes that are responsible for the synthesis of mediators of inflammatory processes, they are called prostaglandins in medical terminology.
Without the ability to develop, inflammation stops and then disappears completely. Aspirin’s ability to influence points in the brain helps relieve pain and restore normal thermoregulation. The pain goes away when the active substance thins the blood and the blood vessels in the brain dilate. Due to the drug's ability to prevent the development of blood clots as a result of platelet aggregation, it is prescribed for the prevention of thrombosis. But aspirin is also prescribed to people with cataracts or constant headaches, and even to reduce the risk of miscarriage, but it is not clear how the drug helps in the fight against high blood pressure. Whether aspirin increases or decreases blood pressure remains to be seen.
Why do hypertensive patients need acetylsalicylic acid?
If you have high blood pressure, the use of aspirin is necessary to prevent the formation of blood clots. The development of hypertension is accompanied by vasospasm. This in itself impairs the blood supply to the organ. If there is a cholesterol plaque inside the artery, tissue nutrition is even more disrupted. Also, arterial spasm can provoke the formation of a blood clot, which will completely or partially block the vessel.
The heart and brain are most sensitive to lack of oxygen and nutrients. This is due to the structural features and functioning of these organs. The blood supply to the heart muscle is designed in such a way that blocking one of the vessels completely deprives the area of the myocardium for which it is responsible. The brain is the most energy-consuming organ. Any malnutrition leads to disruption of its functioning.
conclusions
Aspirin is the most popular analgesic today.
Acetylsalicylic acid, which is the main component of this drug, is included in many painkillers, antipyretics, anti-inflammatory and blood-thinning drugs, as well as drugs for people with high blood pressure.
On its own, aspirin cannot affect high blood pressure, therefore, taking it directly is useless for reducing blood pressure.
But, it should be noted that this drug significantly increases the effectiveness of other drugs, since it dilates blood vessels and makes the blood more fluid.
In special cases where high blood pressure creates multiple blood clots, blocking the blood path, ASA is prescribed as a drug that can dissolve blood clots. In this case, we can say that acetylsalicylic acid is effective against high blood pressure.
Dose and features of aspirin use
Aspirin for high blood pressure is taken in low doses. If for colds and headaches the standard dosage is 0.3-1 g, then for cardiovascular diseases it is 0.075-0.15 g. Usually, treatment begins with the maximum dosage (150 mg), and then gradually switches to a lower one.
Aspirin irritates the gastric mucosa, which results in pain and heartburn. Therefore, it is better to take acetylsalicylic acid tablets whole, on time or immediately after meals. This way you can protect the mucous membrane as much as possible from the aggressive effects of the drug.
You can take aspirin both in the morning and in the evening. There are no clear recommendations. However, recent research demonstrates the benefits of taking the pill in the evening.
Spanish doctors conducted an interesting experiment. They selected patients who had early stages of hypertension. To reduce blood pressure, all of them were recommended to diet and give up bad habits. The average age of the patients was 44 years. All subjects were divided into 3 groups: one did not receive aspirin, the second took pills in the morning, and the third in the evening. During the experiment, patients wore special sensors that measured blood pressure every 20 minutes around the clock.
The experiment lasted 3 months. After this period, the maximum reduction was achieved in the group taking the drug at night. Patients who took the pills in the morning had less success. The first group had the worst result. Interestingly, the relationship between the time of administration and the effectiveness of acetylsalicylic acid was more pronounced in people over 50 years of age.
The effect of Aspirin on blood pressure
Does Aspirin help with blood pressure? It is worth noting that the drug did not have a direct effect on blood pressure . This means that it is a mistake to drink it as an emergency measure to lower blood pressure, hoping for a quick therapeutic effect.
But since the drug is capable of thinning the blood, ensuring normal patency of blood flow, it has a beneficial effect on blood vessels, preventing the development of pathologies in the cardiovascular system. Thus, Aspirin can be used for preventive purposes against blood pressure, but only on the recommendation of a doctor - you should never take it yourself.
Side effects
Prescribing aspirin for high blood pressure may be accompanied by the following side effects:
- nausea, vomiting;
- heartburn;
- abdominal pain;
- rarely – gastrointestinal bleeding;
- decreased blood clotting, manifested by bruises, nosebleeds, bleeding gums;
- dizziness;
- hearing loss;
- skin rash;
- hives;
- Quincke's edema;
- inflammation of the nasal mucosa;
- bronchospasm.
How to take it correctly
It is better to take tablets during a meal or half an hour after finishing a meal. This will have the least irritating effect on the digestive cavity located between the esophagus and intestines. Take the medicine with water without gases. A standard glass of liquid is enough for one dose.
For hypertension, it is recommended to reduce the standard dose of tablets by 10 times. The maximum permissible dose of Aspirin in the presence of high blood pressure and more, which can be taken at one time, is three whole tablets. Exceeding this permissible dosage in most cases has an extremely negative effect on the functioning of the heart. In addition, do not forget that Aspirin is incompatible with caffeine or alcohol. The interaction of these tablets with any coffee or strong drinks contributes to the rapid development of diseases of the body’s vascular system.
Contraindications
Despite its effectiveness, aspirin for high blood pressure should not be prescribed to people who have:
- hypersensitivity to acetylsalicylic acid or any component of the drug;
- bronchial asthma provoked by taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- acute peptic ulcers;
- severe renal, liver or heart failure;
- hemorrhagic diathesis.
Description
Aspirin is a drug whose main advantage is its low price. The drug is produced in the form of white tablets; they contain acetylsalicylic acid.
Some use the product for its intended purpose - taken orally, others crush tablets and apply to damaged areas of the skin to reduce itching, inflammation, discomfort and pain.
In addition, many women use Aspirin as a component of a facial scrub and hair mask. But the main effect of the drug is to relieve inflammation. The medicine inhibits the activity of the enzymes that cause it. Is Aspirin used for high blood pressure? Many people recommend it because it thins the blood, thereby lowering blood pressure.
What do the doctor's say
Is it possible to take Aspirin for high blood pressure? Doctors say that it can be drunk in moderate dosages for hypertension. However, it is prohibited to use it constantly. If blood clotting is impaired, it is better to avoid Aspirin to reduce blood pressure. In addition, constant medical supervision is required while taking it. If hypertension is treated with Aspirin, this should be done in combination with other medications.
Doctors remind that with prolonged use, acetylsalicylic acid weakens the gastric mucosa, which can lead to internal bleeding. It is not recommended to use Aspirin for gastritis, ulcers and ulcerative colitis.
In what cases can Aspirin help?
Today, the pharmaceutical market offers dozens, if not hundreds, of drugs that are just variants of the same drug - Aspirin. The name of the drug may be different, but a literate consumer will definitely pay attention to its composition. If its leading component is designated as acetylsalicylic acid, then this is aspirin, well known to everyone from childhood, which can truly be considered as a multifunctional agent due to its main ability to thin the blood:
- the drug has a beneficial effect on the condition of blood vessels - by dilating them, it resists the formation of blood clots, that is, it indirectly helps a person avoid a heart attack and stroke;
- it affects body temperature - dilated vessels give off heat faster, so the temperature drops;
- relieves pain of various types - joint, muscle, neuralgic, dental, as it is able to block pain-causing substances in the body and influence the central nervous system;
- blocks inflammatory processes - thanks to dilated blood vessels, blood flows faster to problem areas, which accelerates the process of cell regeneration;
- eliminates swelling;
- Some doctors claim that regular use of Aspirin can help in the fight against cancer, or at least reduce the risk of their occurrence.
It should be noted that there is no need to rely on Aspirin as an independent painkiller and anti-inflammatory agent in the long term. If this drug can relieve pain or reduce the degree of inflammation, it is only at the initial stage or in combination with other specialized medications.
Can Aspirin relieve headaches?
Does Aspirin Really Relieve Headaches? The answer to this question is clearly positive. But it should be noted that this medicine can only be effective at the early stage of pain. If you catch the pain at the very beginning of its onset, then aspirin for the head is really recommended. It helps with mild pain in every second case, with moderate pain in every fourth case.
But if the headache attacks are prolonged, then you should not rely on this drug. You should also be critical of aspirin as a painkiller if headache is one of the symptoms of any disease. Aspirin only helps with headaches if they are caused by inflammation, a lack of oxygen in the blood, or a hangover. In the latter case, the medicine must be consumed at least eight hours after alcohol.
