Aspirin has many out-of-course uses

Aspirin as an antibiotic

In 2003, researchers from the Dartmouth Medical School found that Aspirin could help in fighting against toxic bacteria. Aspirin decreases the ability of the bacteria to adhere to the host tissue thereby decreasing the chances of deadly infections.

“Our research shows that salicylic acid, a byproduct of aspirin, impacted the stress system of the bacteria and reduced its ability to cause infection,” said lead author Dr. Ambrose Cheung, a professor of microbiology and immunology at Dartmouth Medical School.

Researchers worked on bacterium Staphylococcus aureus that is the leading cause of serious systemic infections and abscesses.

“The fact that aspirin has been used for pain treatment, to reduce mortality due to heart attacks, and can possibly reduce the risks of infection is incredible,” said Cheung. “We look forward to conducting future tests with aspirin in conjunction with antibiotic therapy.”

Aspirin can be used in Antibiotic induced hearing loss

Researchers published a research in The New England Journal of Medicine in 2006 that Aspirin can be used to stop gentamicin (an antibiotic) induced hearing loss. Gentamicin is commonly used against multidrug resistant tuberculosis and one of the side effects of this drug is hearing loss.

Aspirin against cancer

In another study conducted by researchers from Queen’s University Belfast, it has been found that regular intake of Aspirin could reduce the risk of cancer by half. This research has been published in October 2011 issue of the journal The Lancet.

Professor Patrick Morrison from Queen’s University in Belfast, who led the Northern Ireland part of the study, said: “The results of this study, which has been ongoing for over a decade, proves that the regular intake of aspirin over a prolonged period halves the risk of developing hereditary cancers.  The effects of aspirin in the first five years of the study were not clear but in those who took aspirin for between five and ten years the results were very clear.”

“This is a huge breakthrough in terms of cancer prevention.  For those who have a history of hereditary cancers in their family, like bowel and womb cancers, this will be welcome news.  Not only does it show we can reduce cancer rates and ultimately deaths, it opens up other avenues for further cancer prevention research.  We aim now to go forward with another trial to assess the most effective dosage of aspirin for hereditary cancer prevention and to look at the use of aspirin in the general population as a way of reducing the risk of bowel cancer.

“For anyone considering taking aspirin I would recommend discussing this with your GP first as aspirin is known to bring with it a risk of stomach complaints, including ulcers.”

Aspirin can reduce postoperative cardiac surgery complications

In another study by the researchers from the University of California – Davis Health System, and published in December 2011 issue of the Annals of Surgery, it has been found that Aspirin administered within five days of cardiac surgery could significantly reduce the chances of postoperative complications such as “renal failure, a lengthy intensive care unit stay and even early death (30-day mortality)”.

Note: Despite of these uses, we must consider its adverse effects during its administration.