The First Synthetic Drug
Today I'd like to talk about Aspirin. Aspirin is acetylsalicylic acid, one of the earliest synthetic drugs. It was introduced in 1899 by a German chemist by the name of Felix Hoffmann in order to get the known effects salicyclic acid (relieving pain and lowering raised body-temperature) in a form that could be taken by mouth.
It has proved to be a valuable remedy, both for relieving everyday aches and pains and for the distressing and useless inflammation of rheumatic diseases.
But like any other effective drug, aspirin has its drawbacks.
Even standard doses are very apt to cause some bleeding in the stomach, and larger doses have adverse effects on numerous organs.
To date about 40,000 tons of Aspirin are sold all over the world. It is surprising that its ingredient has never been changed for more than 100 years. A recent reserach shows that it could be the preventitive medicine for bowel cancer, stomach cancer and cardiac infarction.
What medicine do you take when you have a headache?
Do you buy "Bufferin" at the drugstore? Americans never go to a doctor for a headache. They almost always take aspirin and endure it.
On the contrary, the Japanese take the day off and go to the hospital for brain scan. The doctor prescribes 8 varieties of pills for the patient. The Japanese doctors are thriving on the drugs.
In summary I'd like to point out that the Japanese are much more dependent on health insurance system than other OECD countries. The Americans are right. They are ready take the consequences themselves.
Forget Obama care!
It has proved to be a valuable remedy, both for relieving everyday aches and pains and for the distressing and useless inflammation of rheumatic diseases.
But like any other effective drug, aspirin has its drawbacks.
Even standard doses are very apt to cause some bleeding in the stomach, and larger doses have adverse effects on numerous organs.
To date about 40,000 tons of Aspirin are sold all over the world. It is surprising that its ingredient has never been changed for more than 100 years. A recent reserach shows that it could be the preventitive medicine for bowel cancer, stomach cancer and cardiac infarction.
What medicine do you take when you have a headache?
Do you buy "Bufferin" at the drugstore? Americans never go to a doctor for a headache. They almost always take aspirin and endure it.
On the contrary, the Japanese take the day off and go to the hospital for brain scan. The doctor prescribes 8 varieties of pills for the patient. The Japanese doctors are thriving on the drugs.
In summary I'd like to point out that the Japanese are much more dependent on health insurance system than other OECD countries. The Americans are right. They are ready take the consequences themselves.
Forget Obama care!
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