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For many Muslims, Eid brings the promise of joyful reunions, rich delicious meals, bountiful gatherings and sitting down to chat with friends and family. For others, however, Eid brings the dread of stressful reunions, cholesterol-laden meals, crowded noisy gatherings with headaches and prolonged periods of sitting or standing that can bring on any number of body pains or arthritic attacks.
For this latter group, aspirin is often the remedy of choice. In fact, aspirin is so popular worldwide that it is sold in capsules, tablets, drinks, chewing gums and elixirs (James). According to a 2004 survey, Americans alone took over 80 million tablets a day.
A String of Controversies
Aspirin has only grown in popularity since its discovery in 1897 as the first non steroidal anti inflammatory drug (NSAID) that could be taken for pain without impairing a person’s functionality or immediately endangering their lives.
Until aspirin was discovered, many analgesics would induce a sleepy or narcotic state or would cause fits of vomiting.
In recent years, aspirin has been popularly advertised as a preventative against heart attacks. Some have even suggested that taking it at the first sign of a heart attack can help you on the way to the hospital. Bayer's statistics show that prevention of heart disease now accounts for 37 percent of aspirin use. (McNally)
Along with the popularity of usage, however, has come a string of controversies starting with a study done by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that found that 96% of children who developed Reye’s syndrome had been given aspirin in the presence of a viral illness. (Balch)
However, the controversy goes deeper than this. Questions are being brought up such as: how wise is it to self-medicate and when is it appropriate? Do people and their doctors have enough information about pharmaceuticals to make the right decisions? Is there really one medication that is right for everyone? And what happens when we use medications to mask symptoms instead of healing the patient?
Should You Self-Medicate?
| Batmanghelidj suggests that it is the glass of water that one takes with their medication that helps more often than the medication itself. |
On one hand self-medicating is discouraged. Most doctors recommend that all people see a physician before taking any medications and a significant number of medications are regulated and only distributed at pharmacies.
On the other hand, self-medication is encouraged as there are aisles of medications available at local drug stores. However, people often take the wrong medication or overdose on over the counter medications and this problem often occurs with aspirin. In fact, overdose with NSAIDs is the 15th leading cause of death in America. (Cranton)
Because it comes in small pink tablets marked "baby aspirin" and numerous advertisements suggest that people should take "one tablet a day", the public is lured into the idea that aspirin is harmless and safe.
However, it can do a fair amount of damage when used too frequently, in the wrong dosage or with the wrong person. Studies show that risk of strokes increases four-fold in people taking aspirin on a daily basis. (Bypassing Aspirin)
In other studies people who took aspirin and did not take aspirin were compared. It was found that patients in the aspirin group had increased chances of experiencing serious gastrointestinal problems and twice as many were later hospitalized for complications associated with a heart condition in the first twelve months of the study. (Alimentary Pharmacology Journal)
The World Chiropractic Alliance reported that patients with blocked arteries to the brain are three times more likely to have a stroke if they are taking aspirin and that heartburn and gastrointestinal bleeding occur in 31% of patients taking 300mg of aspirin or more each day.
Anemia and bleeding ulcers are also common side effects. Even in hospitals there have been documented cases of aspirin being given at the wrong time during a heart attack and patients dying or suffering as a result. (Cleland, FFARR)
This leads one to ponder why aspirin is considered a universal remedy for heart attacks and pain when other universal remedies do not exist. Just as each person has unique needs for anti-depressants and cold medicines, they also have unique needs in the category of pain remedies and methods of heart-attack prevention.
Safe Alternatives
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| There are many safe alternatives to aspirin that not only help, but also heal. Depending on the exact complaint these include willow bark (the herb from which aspirin originated). |
All of the negative side effects associated with aspirin also provide a good example of what happens when people attempt to treat the symptoms of a disease instead of actually healing the patient or preventing the illness to begin with.
There are many safe alternatives to aspirin that not only help, but also heal. Depending on the exact complaint these include willow bark (the herb from which aspirin originated), chamomile, peppermint, hibiscus, nettles, fenugreek, yarrow, yellow dock and many more. In addition, there are some simple preventative measures people can take to avoid the complaints of headaches and pains during Eid and other times of celebration.
Actually, prevention is the best approach with pain. As many people who have experienced pain can tell you, once the pain starts it is much harder to control. The best time to take pain medication is really before the pain starts. So, if one can prevent the pain to begin with this is even better.
Some of the most common stresses on the body during Eid are changes in eating and drinking habits, changes in sleep habits and overexertion either physically, emotionally or mentally.
One of the leading and hidden causes of pain, including headaches, is dehydration. Not the kind of extreme dehydration that you read about that happens with athletes over a few hours but the kind of chronic dehydration than many people suffer over months and years like that which Dr. Fereydoon Batmanghelidj describes in his book "Our Body's Many Cries for Water".
Batmanghelidj states that water can cure angina, headaches, migraines, arthritis and heartburn, among other things and even suggests that it is the glass of water that one takes with their medication that helps more often than the medication itself. (Batmanghelidj)
Another hidden cause of pain is food additives and food intolerances. Numerous scientific studies show this relationship between food and pain to be a significant one.
The top foods and additives to avoid if you experience pain are: MSG, yellow dye, red dye, potatoes, wheat, milk and peanuts. However, the best approach is to observe your reaction to the foods you eat and notice if your pain increases after certain foods or types of meals.
Sleep patterns can also affect pain. Chronic sleep deprivation increases the chances of developing chronic muscle pain, fibromyalgia, headaches and other kinds of pain. (The Pain Clinic)
If you are not able to get a complete night's sleep due to social obligations and prayers during Eid you should try to take naps during the day – even ten minutes in a dark quiet room, with your eyes closed will help. Additionally, you should make sure you get extra sleep before and after Eid.
Last, but not least, remember to pace yourself during Eid. It is easy to stay in the sun too long (a common cause of headaches) or sit in an uncomfortable position too long (a common cause of pain) if you are having fun chatting with friends and relatives.
Remember to change your position often, to rest in-between events (even if only for 5-10 minutes), stay out of the sun as much as possible, drink enough water and eat moderate amounts of healthy food. Remember that sodas, coffees and teas can dehydrate your body and lead to additional pain.
Sources:
Balch, Phyllis A. "Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Edition." Avery. 2006.
Batmanghelidj , Fereydoon. "Our Body's Many Cries for Water." Global Health Solutions, 2 edition: 1 July 1995.
Cleland, JG.; Findlay, I.; Jafri, S.; Sutton, G.; Falk, R.; Bulpitt, C.; Prentice, C.; Ford, I.; Trainer, A.; Poole-Wilson, P.A. "The Warfarin/Aspirin Study in Heart failure (WASH): A Randomized Trial Comparing Antithrombotic Strategies for Patients with Heart Failure." American Heart Journal. 148(1):157-64. July 2004.
Cleland, John G.F. "Aspirin Not Recommended for Heart Disease Anymore." Accessed 17 Sept. 2009.
Cranton, Elmer. "Bypassing Bypass." Hampton Roads Publishing Co.:2002.
D'Adamo, Peter. "Eat Right 4 Your Type." Putnam Adult. January 1, 1996.
"Dangers of Aspirin." World Chiropractic Alliance. Feb. 1999.
"Death by Analgesics."Associated Press. May 1999.
"Foundation Studies." Foundation for Aneurysm Rupture Research. Accessed 17 Sept. 2009.
Halpern, Georges M. "Ulcer Free! Nature's Safe & Effective Remedy." Square One Publishers. March 2004.
James, Jennifer. "Aspirin: Upside, Downside." Do It Now Foundation. Oct. 2002. Accessed 17 Sept. 2009.
McNally, Frank. "Aspirin." Irish Times. 17 Aug. 1997.
Norton, Patrice G. W."Aneurysm Outcomes Unaffected in Aspirin Users." Mayo Clinic New Internal Medicine News. October 15, 2002. Accessed 17 Sept. 2009.
The Pain Clinic. "Sleep." Accessed 17 Sept. 2009.
Warber, Jeffrey. "Aspirin." Internal Health Center. Accessed 17 Sept. 2009.
Yeomans, N. D.; Lanas, A. I.; Talley, N. J.; Thomson, A. B. R.; Daneshjoo, R.; Eriksson, B.; Appelman-Eszczuk, S.; Langstrom, G.; Naesdal, J.; Serrano, P.; Singh, M.; Skelly, M. M.; Hawkey, C. J."Prevalence and Incidence of Gastroduodenal Ulcers During Treatment with Vascular Protective Doses of Aspirin." Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 22(9):795-801. November 2005.
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