Thursday, March 20, 2014

What You Should Know About An Aspirin Overdose

By Corrinne Naki


What Is Aspirin? Aspirin is a medication that is used to reduce inflammation, pain and fever. Doctors may also recommend this medication to people who suffer from heart problems. Even though this medication offers a number of benefits, taking more than the recommended aspirin dosage can have an adverse effect on one's health.

Treatment - The type of treatment that is recommended is dependent upon the severity of the overdose. Doctors and nurses will check the patient's vital signs and place an IV in the patient's veins. Lab tests will also be ordered. The patient may be given fluids and activated charcoal. The activated charcoal will help soak up the aspirin that is inside of the stomach.

One of the main side effects that manifests within children taking aspirin is known as Reye Syndrome, a condition that produces excessive fat deposits around the child's organs (especially their liver). This condition can result in death as pressure can build up to fatal levels around the child's brain. While the drug's blood thinning effects are useful when it comes to potentially preventing heart disease, those same effects can cause anemia and hemophilia.

Children who are under the age of 12 should not be given aspirin without a doctor's consent. They are much more likely to be affected by an overdose. When To Get Medical Care If a person is experiencing minor Aspirin side effects, then his or her doctor should be contacted. The doctor may choose to decrease the dosage or tell the patient to stop using the medication. People who are experiencing severe symptoms will need to seek emergency medical care.

In truly severe reactions to the drug aspirin can even cause a cerebral edema, a condition where excess water floods around the brain, causing anything from migraines to death. While it's clear that many people use aspirin for extended periods of time without developing serious side effects, it's also clear that the potential dangers of regular and prolonged aspirin use need to be taken into consideration.




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