Wednesday, July 29, 2009

7 Things You Didn't Know About Aspirin


You may have needed a couple after a stressful day at work or one too many dirty martinis. The bottle of ibuprofen has saved you from many a headache, but can aspirin help in other ways? Could it be that your go to for pain relief is so much more than previously thought? The following are seven things you may not have known about this medicine cabinet staple.Prevent cancer. A study designed by a research team at Washington University and posted in The Journal of Cellular Biochemistry shows that aspirin's blood thinning property helps slow the spread of cancer cells. People who take aspirin regularly may have a decreased chance of developing some forms of cancer. It's best to get a doctors opinion before starting any new regimen, so ask your doctor during your next check-up.
Soothe bug bites. You may have heard that it helps to put salt on a mosquito bite to stop it from itching. But, moistening the site of an insect sting and rubbing it with an uncoated aspirin can ease pain and discomfort. Remember this following your next run in with the business end of a bumble bee.Jump your car. If you find yourself stranded and without jumper cables, check your purse or glove compartment for some aspirin. If you're in luck, you may be able to get moving again. Adding aspirin to a car battery may help to recharge it enough for one last start of the engine. When it does, be sure to head to the nearest gas station

Remove stains. From grass to perspiration stains, restoring dirtied clothing to its original condition is a frustrating task. Remove pesky stains by dissolving two crushed aspirin in enough warm water to soak the area.Clear up pimples. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, aspirin reduces the redness of breakouts. Crush two aspirin and mix it with enough water to make a thick paste. Apply this mixture before bed and you should awake to find that your pimple has cleared up dramatically

Restore hair color. Blondes, natural and highlighted alike, can attest to the disaster that is hair dyed green after a swim in a chlorinated pool. If you find yourself sporting a less than desirable hue, dissolve eight aspirin enough water to saturate your hair. After about 15-20 minutes, rinse and wash and condition as usual. You're now free to go back out in public.Cause Reye's syndrome. A potentially life-threatening illness, Reye's syndrome usually occurs when a person is recovering from another viral infection such as influenza. While most people assume taking aspirin is a safe and effective way to relieve a headache, it could prove disastrous for children and teens. Reye's syndrome, marked by fat accumulations in the liver, leads to organ failure and extreme swelling of the brain. While it can affect adults without the use of aspirin, children and teens seem to have a more marked vulnerability when aspirin is involved.For one little pill, it contains a lot of potential. You may need aspirin for more than your next headache. Next time you leave the house, think about tossing a bottle in with the rest of your essentials.Thanks Brent McNutt for this post. He enjoys talking about cheap scrubs and landau pants and networking with healthcare professionals online

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