Clinical Evaluation of Aspirin Effects on Gastrointestinal Tract and Circulatory System

Abstract

Aspirin, also known as salicylic acid, is one of the most well-known and widely used medicines. Throughout the previous century, it has been used to treat symptoms of fever and rheumatic pain, and it remains a superior therapy to its alternatives .In Iraq, we did not find a study explaining the effects of aspirin so the current study aims to know the side effects of aspirin on digestive disorders, as well as on circulatory system in different . The current study included done diagnosis and questionnaire for 120 individuals who took aspirin based on the instructions of the specialist, and their ages ranged between 8 to 88 years. Several tests were conducted to detect digestive disorders, such as the detection of Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) based on blood, stool and exhalation tests so endoscopic examination of stomach ulcers was used for some patients. Heart activity measurements and medical examinations were also conducted .The current study showed that most patients who use aspirin (65%) do not suffer from health problems as a result of taking it. Disorders associated with taking aspirin are digestive disorders (13%), blood thinning (10%) and heart palpitations (5%). One of the most important digestive disorders associated with taking aspirin in some patients are gastric ulcer (62.5%), colon irritation (25%) and duodenal ulcers (12.5%), so that GIT disorders mainly detected in people aged 51-55 years and this harmful effect led to patients not continuing to take aspirin when health problems associated with taking it appeared. In conclusion, aspirin is a treatment that has a major role in reducing the risk of many diseases, especially heart diseases, but it must be used as directed by the specialist doctor, in order to monitor the emergence or development of side effects that may threaten the patient's life, such as stomach ulcers, haemophilia and palpitation.