Aspirin 81mg question

ACTIONS OF ASPIRIN

Aspirin inhibits the clumping of platelets (even in low doses), has pain killing effects (in medium doses), and has antiinflammatory effects (in high doses).

Platelets are tiny cell fragments circulating in the blood that have a role in blood clotting. Under normal circumstances, platelets clump together and help form blood clots that stop bleeding. However, in coronary heart disease, platelets clump together in narrowed arteries, which leads to the development of a clot within the artery; the platelet "plug" itself and/or the clot that forms can block blood flow (figure 1).

This blockage can have significant consequences. When the arteries that supply blood to the brain are blocked, the supply of oxygen to the brain is decreased. The consequences of this depend upon the duration and the extent to which blood flow is cut off.

• When the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the heart are blocked briefly, the result is an episode of chest pain, called angina. A blockage that is of longer duration can result in a heart attack (also called myocardial infarction).
  
• In the brain, when the blockage is brief, the result is a transient ischemic attack (TIA), and when the blockage is longer, the result is an ischemic stroke
  

So, Aspirin interferes with the blood's clotting action. When you bleed, your blood's clotting cells, called platelets, build up at the site of your wound. The platelets help form a plug that seals the opening in your blood vessel to stop bleeding. But this clotting can also happen within the vessels that supply your heart with blood. If your blood vessels are already narrowed from atherosclerosis — the buildup of fatty deposits in your arteries — a fatty deposit in your vessel lining can burst. Then, a blood clot can quickly form and block the artery. This prevents blood flow to the heart and causes a heart attack. Aspirin therapy reduces the clumping action of platelets — possibly preventing a heart attack.

Great job using your thinking skills

Hello,

My pt is 85 years old and takes aspirin 81mg daily, when I look at his past medical history the only thing heart related is hypertension and an EKG from today that shows pac's and a right bundle branch block. In micromedex I don't see Asa for hypertension but when I google it Asa can be used for hypertension. So I have 3 choices cardio protective, hypertension or EKG findings. I want to say he's on it for cardio protection to prevent an MI or stroke am I wrong or am I overlooking another possibility? Thanks

Aspirin is a cornerstone of primary prevention of both myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke. If you want to be an all-star when you write it up, look into the guidelines for aspirin prophylaxis as far as your patient's age.....