| We've all popped a few aspirins or Tylenols in our | | | | on your broken leg or from going out in the cold |
| day, but do we really know what happens when | | | | with an ear infection (not to mention the times |
| we take an Advil pain reliever? Are we just taking | | | | when it stops you from continuing something |
| them so we feel like we're doing something good | | | | damaging, like putting your hand on something hot. |
| for what ails us? | | | | On the other hand, it hurts! |
| The most common pain relievers are ibuprofen, | | | | That's where pain relievers come in. Ibuprofen |
| acetaminophen, and aspirin. Clearly pain relievers | | | | stops your cells from producing the prostaglandin, |
| don’t just rush to the site of the pain and | | | | which means it takes your brain longer to know |
| repair things, so what are they doing? | | | | about the throbbing pain. For more intense pain |
| Pain relievers work in the cells and nerve endings. | | | | relievers like the anesthesia, the method is slightly |
| Basically, they fool your brain and nervous | | | | different. The medicine blocks nerve cells from |
| system into thinking the pain is gone, or at least | | | | each so that they can't communicate with each |
| into ignoring some of it. When you are injured, | | | | other and the brain just doesn't get the pain |
| your cells release a chemical called prostaglandin. | | | | message. (This is good, because the doctor might |
| Your nerve endings are respond to this chemical | | | | slip if you jumped and yelled every time he made |
| and tell your brain that something is wrong - | | | | an incision or put pins in your bones. |
| which is good, because it keeps you from walking | | | | |