Taking high doses of aspirin may disrupt metabolic processes in the body and lead to unfavorable changes at the cellular level. Taking aspirin during the flu is especially dangerous - the drug can cause adverse changes in the liver and brain (the so-called Reye's syndrome).
California scientists have no doubts: such a huge number of deaths (about 50 million people!) During the pandemicfluSpanish women in 1918 was caused by the abuse of aspirin . How is it possible, after all, this is what many of us reach for aspirin when feeling the symptoms of a cold or flu? Aspirin, which has appeared in the world since only over 100 years ago, has gained the opinion of a wonderful painkiller, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory drug. An almost perfect drug, a lot of the truth in this, as subsequent studies have shown that, apart from a few contraindications (the most important are gastrointestinal bleeding, hence aspirin is not recommended for ulcers), this drug can have many useful uses, e.g. in the prevention of certain cancers.
Abused aspirin can be harmful
American researchers prove that it was the abuse of acetylsalicylic acid (the active ingredient of aspirin) that most certainly led to such a high mortality rate due to Spanish women. And they caution against using it during the current swine flu pandemic, and against overuse of any other flu symptoms. Quite a few people are allergic to salicylates. But even those who are not allergic to them should reach for them with caution or use substitutes during any viral infection. Salicylates may contribute to the increased synthesis of mucus in the lungs, which in turn may cause difficulties in its removal, and consequently lead to an exacerbation of the course of viral infection. This in turn may cause bacterial superinfections.
Important- Avoid medications containing caffeine during a flu infection. Caffeine makes you feel good quickly, get out of bed. But the viruses are still stuck in you and you infect others. At the same time, when caffeine stops working, you become more vulnerable to viruses and bacteria.
- Remember that a person with the flu can infect others up to 48 -72 h after fever and acute respiratory symptoms have subsided.
Toxic doses of aspirin
According to Dr. Karen Starko from the University of California, who made another attempt to explain the causes of such high mortality as a result of the Spanish, doctors recommended too high doses of this drug, even up to 31 g per day! Meanwhile, today the recommended maximum dose is about 4 g. Such doses must have turned out to be toxic. They had to cause numerous side effects, such as accumulation of water in the lungs, problems with the respiratory and circulatory systems, and finally general intoxication of the body. All this weakened the body so much that it became susceptible to the effects of not only influenza viruses, but also other viruses and bacteria. And it was probably bacteria that caused numerous deaths.
Never too much caution when taking aspirin
Does this mean that aspirin in smaller, safer doses is not dangerous? In the case of flu, scientists and doctors alike recommend caution. And not just for children, adolescents, pregnant and nursing women, or people who are allergic to salicylates, but everyone. Some scientists claim that even small doses of aspirin in contact with influenza viruses can cause life-threatening so-called Reye's syndrome, a disease that adversely affects many organs, mainly the brain and liver. Although the immediate cause of the disease is still unknown, it is believed to be related to the use of certain medications, such as acetylsalicylic acid. Reye's syndrome can occur a few days after a viral infection (e.g. influenza, chicken pox). In addition, as has recently been emphasized, this syndrome can occur not only in children aged 4-12, but also in adults. One of the characteristic symptoms of this disease is severe, violent vomiting. Nausea and vomiting can also accompany flu, but it is not too strong.