Aspirin is a common drug for relieving minor aches, pains, and fevers. People also use it as an anti-inflammatory or a blood thinner. People can buy aspirin over the counter without a prescription. Everyday uses include relieving headache, reducing swelling, and reducing a fever.

Taken daily, aspirin can lower the risk of cardiovascular events, such as a heart attack or stroke, in people with a high risk. Doctors may administer aspirin immediately after a heart attack to prevent further clots and heart tissue death. This article provides an overview of aspirin, including its uses, risks, interactions, and possible side effects. Aspirin is a no steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It was the first of this class of drug to be discovered. Aspirin contains salicylate, a compound found in plants such as the willow tree and myrtle. Its use was first recorded around 4,000 years ago Trusted Source. Hippocrates used willow bark for relieving pain and fevers, and some people still use willow bark as a natural remedy for headaches and minor pain.

• sprains and strains
• menstrual cramps
• long-term conditions, such as arthritis and migraine

For severe pain, a doctor may recommend using aspirin alongside another drug, such as an opioid pain reliever or another NSAID.

The daily use of low-dose aspirin can lower the risk of cardiovascular events in some people — it is not safe for everyone. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)Trusted Source recommend only using aspirin in this way under the supervision of a doctor.

In people with a high risk of cardiovascular events, low-dose aspirin can reduce the risk by preventing blood clots from forming.

A doctor may recommend daily low-dose aspirin for people who :

• have a heart or blood vessel disease
• have evidence of poor blood flow to the brain
• have high blood cholesterol
• have high blood pressure, or hypertension
• have diabetes
• smoke

However, for people without these issues, the risks of long-term aspirin use can outweigh the benefits.

The 2016 recommendations from the United States Preventive Services Task Force say that adults aged 50–59 may take aspirin daily to prevent colorectal cancer, as well as cardiovascular disease. However, this guidance only applies to adults in the age range who:

• have at least a 10% 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease
• do not have a high risk of bleeding
• have a life expectancy of at least 10 years
• are willing to take a daily low dose for at least 10 years

Thanks and Regards,

Robert Her.