What does aspirin contain? Is it natural? Is it true that 1-14 a week cuts disease by 38 percent?

Answer 1

AcetylSalicylic Acid.

It can come from willow bark, but is normally made synthetically.

An aspirin a day is supposed to reduce heart disease, by
thinning blood or reducing irritation, but 38% sounds like too much.

Answer 2

Aspirin®, or acetylsalicylic acid (IPA: /əˌsɛtɨlsælɨˌsɪlɨk ˈæsɨd/), (acetosal) is a salicylate drug often used as an analgesic (to relieve minor aches and pains), antipyretic (to reduce fever), and as an anti-inflammatory. It also has an antiplatelet ("blood-thinning") effect and is used in long-term, low doses to prevent heart attacks and blood clot formation in people at high risk for developing blood clots.[1]

High doses of aspirin may also be given immediately after an acute heart attack; these doses may inhibit the synthesis of prothrombin and therefore produce a second and different anticoagulant effect,[2] although this is not well understood.

The main undesirable side effects of aspirin are gastrointestinal distress—including ulcers and stomach bleeding—and tinnitus, especially in higher doses. Another adverse effect is increased bleeding in menstruating women, due to aspirin's anticoagulant properties. In children under 12 years of age, aspirin is no longer used to control flu-like symptoms or the symptoms of chickenpox, due to the risk of Reye's syndrome.[3]

Aspirin was the first-discovered member of the class of drugs known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), not all of which are salicylates, although they all have similar effects and most have some mechanism of action which involves non-selective inhibition of the enzyme cyclooxygenase.

Answer 3

aspirin is acetyl salycylic acid. Yes it is natural. A small aspirin a day does keep the blood from clotting so easily thus helping to prevent strokes and heart attacks. Needless to say since it has an effect on clotting, do not take it if you have a clotting problem or ulcers.