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Show Aspiriin) By WILUAM J. GOLDWAG, M.D. Q. I had a heart attack two years ago and among other things, my doctor told me to take two aspirin every day in the morning and at night. I DONT really understand why he said this since I don't have any chest pain at all at this time. Could you explain what the aspirin is supposed to do? A. Some studies have shown that one of the effects of aspirin as-pirin is to reduce the tendency ten-dency of blood platelets to agglutinate or stick together. The platelets are the very small structures in the blood stream that are needed in order for blood to clot properly. WHEN THERE aren't enough blood platelets, the person may bleed internally into the inner organs or even in the skin causing many small black and blue spots to appear. It is believed that these same platelets that are so necessary to life may work against us if there are rough areas or irregularities (plaques) on the inner lining wall of the arteries. The platelets pla-telets may stick to these areas and then attract other platelets pla-telets to stick to them and eventually may build up a clot or enlarge the roughed area until the artery gets blocked off. THIS WILL cause a heart attack if the involved artery is one supplying the heart muscle with blood, or a stroke if it happens in a brain artery. The aspirin seems to block this stickiness of the platelets. pla-telets. A word of caution must be added however. Other studies have demonstrated that the same aspirin also reduces the adhesiveness of white blood cells to the lining of the blood vessel walls. THESE WHITE blood cells are the ones that fight infection infec-tion by destroying bacteria that may have invaded the blood stream. The adhesiveness of these cells is an important property in their ability to kill bacteria. In laboratory experiments on mice, those receiving aspirin as-pirin after being infected with bacteria had a higher death rate than those not given any aspirin. This would be especially important in patients pa-tients on high doses of aspirin such as those with arthritis, but anyone taking the drug for prolonged periods of time might be at increased risk from bacterial infections. IT ALSO points up the possible pos-sible undesirable practice of giving someone aspirin for fever as soon as they get the signs of an infection. It could be actually interfering with their resistance to the developing infection. You really can't subject your body to any potent drug for long periods of time without some kind of risk and even aspirin which has been thought to be one of the safest drugs known may carry some slight risk from its use. Q. CAN YOU explain a flushing of the cheekbones that occurs only sometimes, but always in the evening and definitely after an alcoholic beverage. I am 48 years old, my uterus was removed 10 years ago. 1 have experienced "hot flashes." Is the above a similar condition? What would make alcohol trigger it? IS THERE A connection with menopause or is this an entirely different matter? A. Perhaps the most important im-portant information which is not given is the complexion or country of origin of the questioner. ques-tioner. Light-haired, blue-eyed blue-eyed people are very prone to flush easily and for that flushing to show up readily on the cheeks. THE RUDDY complexion of p 6 Nordit and , Eurpean nJ? going ,b ""J" the 5 ..n y substance bll vessels to ' ' is the col!; ee small blood v2 i more blood to fi ' bi reversible altho. ni 'ndmdualsai j permanent enlarge ., these vessels mav- MENOPAUSEBolia rompaniedbyuiu: s"'ve reactivity o, sets which is relateiio? rnonal changes m, The flush can be ins almost anything curs at night when seems to be no mi,,.":,' cause. j Niacin, vitamin B-3 mcflly causes a fli. " is apt to occur M5, parts of the body as ,t; theface. It ispresentm vitamin preparations jv ""' you are very sensim,: you could get Uiisrtao T-you T-you took it at the same"-everyday. same"-everyday. Some spicss, this, again in peoples,,, ' to the reaction. It ts s,",' . no cause for concern " " |
