Aspirin, which can also be referred to as acetylsalicylic acid is a Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID). These set of pills or drugs are renowned for being antipyretics (i.e. highly effective in combating fever), analgesic (effective in relieving pain without loss of consciousness or anesthesia), and anti-inflammatory (i.e. when consumed in high doses can lower inflammation). They are well soothed for treating blood clotting too. Owing to its efficacy in treating mild to severe pain and its anti-inflammatory capabilities, aspirin has come to be accepted by all and sundry as a daily solution. No wonder it is renowned as one of the most used pills all over the world.
Nevertheless, several studies have confirmed that aspirin’s risk to health surpasses its benefits. One such remarkable study that affirms this claim was a Dutch study published about fifteen years ago. The study revealed that aspirin was responsible for increasing gastrointestinal bleeding in women who are under sixty-four years (64) when it was intended to prevent cardiovascular diseases and colorectal cancer. This conclusion was reached after several volunteers were placed on 100mg of aspirin for an average period of close to seven and a half years. A more recent study by the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology (published in the Journal of American College of Cardiology) dispels using aspirin in low doses for the prevention of stroke and myocardial infarction (heart diseases).
The vulnerable
Now, it must be emphasized that those who have never suffered severe vascular events such as heart attacks or stroke are more likely to suffer from intense bleeding as a result of aspirin usage. As reported by a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, out of every one thousand persons consuming aspirin, only eleven avoided serious cases of heart attack and stroke. Stemming from this is the fact that those who consume a low dosage of aspirin to prevent heart attacks or stroke must stop it. From another study also, it was revealed that among older people (those who are seventy and older), aspirin did not reduce the risk of contracting dementia, cardiovascular-related diseases or disability.
Also, it is interesting to point out that the dire negative effects associated with aspirin are not exclusive to it – as various drugs in the non-steroid anti-inflammatory (NSAID) category also exhibit treats towards healthy living. Such drugs as Ibuprofen and Tylenol have been identified to be toxic to vital organs in the body. These drugs have culminated in the deaths of thousands of people over the years.
Considering the harmful effects and the attendant dangers posed by aspirin to human health, it is expedient that its consumption must be stopped. Now, a better drug that can be used to substitute aspirin and which is more effective with less risk to healthy living has been brought to the limelight. The drug is Pycnogenol and according to experts, it has shamed aspirin
Why Pycnogenol is better
Why would you want to settle for aspirin and die untimely when a viable substitute exists? – No, that shouldn’t be!
Pycnogenol, extracted from the bark of European pine trees has been identified as a suitable alternative to aspirin. Research affirms that Pycnogenol might be valuable in the treatment of over eighty (80) health conditions. More so, according to studies, Pycnogenol is useful for treating allergies and asthma especially in kids; it is an antioxidant that is effective for the protection of cells from harm; it has benefits for cardiovascular-related health issues. More importantly, studies have confirmed that it is efficacious in the treatment of blood clots and coronary artery diseases. For eye defects caused by diabetes, Pycnogenol has also proven up to the task. A research study published in the Journal of Thrombotic research in 1999 revealed that unlike aspirin, Pycnogenol can inhibit blood clotting caused by smoking without increasing the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding.
What also makes Pycnogenol better than aspirin is the fact that it is derived from nature – unlike aspirin which is made of synthetic chemicals. This favors the paradigm shift in the pharmaceutical industry to transcend from the use of synthetic chemical substances to natural substances which are more beneficial to human health and also reduce the risk of contracting severe diseases.
Other benefits of Pycnogenol
Remarkable for being a natural solution, Pycnogenol as earlier said, is more beneficial to human health and better placed for preempting cardiovascular diseases. As confirmed by several studies, the following are some other benefits of Pycnogenol:
- Pycnogenol has been earmarked as a reducer of blood pressure as such it is suitable for addressing critical cases of hypertension. Also, it is effective for combating endothelial dysfunction (associated with the incorrect functioning of the inner blood vessels).
- It is also efficacious when used as anti-inflammatory pills. It prevents inflammatory infections and as such helps in reducing the risk of contracting cardiovascular diseases.
In conclusion, it is undeniable that the ultimate aim of health practitioners is the total elimination of the reliance on pills in preventing cardio-related diseases (whether Pycnogenol is better than aspirin or not). As such; regular exercises, feeding on nutritious and healthy meals and clean water, and adequate rest must be emphasized for healthy living.
