Aspirin - how much does it thin the blood by?

Question

I am working on a project, and I need to know how much aspirin thins the blood, if anyone knows this information it would be much appreciated. As i need to work on a non-surgical method to treat heart disease, so i am looking at aspirin. Which i can then link to my fluid mechanics

I am working on the basis on 81mg aspirin. I need a value of how much it is thinned, if it is possible, so i can use it work on my fluid mechanics project.
Or if there is any other drugs that do the same sort of thing, and by how much.

Answer 1

As all the above. Aspirin knocks out the platelets and so reduces the clotting. Once knocked out, the individual platelets (thrombocytes) are useless and eventually die. The average 'life' of the platelet is six months.

Hence: the rationale behind the 75 mg-81mg dose is that only a small proportion of platelets are deactivated on a daily basis. The platelets are replaced on a daily basis and so the platelet aggregation factor is 'reduced' but not removed altogether. It is only the aspirin that has the anti-platelet activity rather than the salicylate metabolite. The half life of the anti-platelet activity therefore is only 20 minutes. Conversely the aspirin also inhibits the release of prostacyclin from blood vessel walls. Prostacyclin is vaso-dilator and would reduce blood pressure (by reducing blood volume), however it is accepted that whereas this inhibition is reversible the inhibition of the platelets isn't so the long term benefits of the aspirin use is justified.

If you are studying the rheological properties of blood, there has been some work to show that statins change the flow properties of blood to some extent.

If treating 'heart disease' aspirin is normally used alongside other drugs with different modes of action. Its main role is in prevention of primary or secondary event or stroke.

Other drugs that 'thin' the blood in the same sort of way is clopidogrel. Still under patent it is used only if the patient is intolerant to aspirin.

Answer 2

Yes, Aspirin thins blood. That's why it's recommended to people with diabetes or heart conditions on a daily basis. I would ask your local pharmacist about another alternative. Linda is right. Tylenol (Acetaminophen) won't thin your blood though.

Answer 3

Blood thinners don't actually thin the blood - they inhibit clotting by interfering with enzymes that cause platelets to clump. There is no change in viscosity of the blood, but aspirin prevents increases in flow resistance to develop due to the formation of clots.

The effect of aspirin and other anti-coagulents is usually measured as bleeding time or clotting time, which is a standardized test in a vial that is difficult to relate to the physical effects in an actual blood vessel. You may be able to find bleeding and clotting times in medical literature, and somehow relate this to development of clots and increased flow resistance as clots grow.

You could also add in effects of vasodilators such as Hydralazine (Apresoline) and Minoxidil (Loniten), which widen blood vessels.

Answer 4

the degree of anti coagulation is not normally measured...it is less than the expected effect of other drugs such as heparin, warfarin, lovenox, plavix, etc...most of the effects/dosage is weight dependent and individualized according to measurable lab results...and are u considering 81mg or 325mg of aspirin?

Answer 5

If you take it daily, (Which is good for you) it thins enough that your average body temp. will actually drop. Not too low, but with most people, it is noticable with a thermomitor.