| When it comes to curing the common headache | | | | the risk of kidney damage, both of which are |
| most people reach for either an aspirin or a | | | | risks with the prolonged use of aspirin. In addition, |
| paracetamol tablet, but which should you choose? | | | | it does not interfere with blood clotting as does |
| Both aspirin and paracetamol (also referred to as | | | | aspirin and so is safer in the event of sustaining a |
| acetaminophen) have been used to treat | | | | cut or for people who are prone to nose bleeds. |
| headaches since the end of the 19th century and | | | | Paracetamol can also be taken safely by people |
| while they are both essentially analgesics (pain | | | | suffering from certain diseases, such as Reye's |
| killers) there are some very important differences | | | | syndrome, where the use of aspirin is considered |
| between these two drugs. | | | | to be unsafe. |
| Aspirin works by binding to and blocking an | | | | As with most drugs there are of course risks |
| enzyme which is necessary for the production of | | | | with paracetamol and these are seen particularly |
| a group of natural body hormones known as | | | | when it is taken in improper or high dosages. For |
| prostaglandins. These body biochemicals come into | | | | example, taking paracetamol on a regular daily |
| play whenever you suffer inflammation, such as | | | | basis can result in what are known as rebound |
| that which occurs whenever body tissue is injured. | | | | headaches and, at high enough dosages, |
| If you catch your finger in a drawer while you are | | | | paracetamol can lead to liver damage and |
| closing it the damage to the tissue of your finger | | | | ultimately to death. These risks are of course low, |
| will begin the production of prostaglandins at the | | | | but they can be increased substantially by, for |
| site of the injury and these prostaglandins will | | | | example, taking paracetamol in conjunction with |
| send signals along the nerves from the finger to | | | | alcohol. |
| the brain which you perceive as pain. At the same | | | | Some of the signs to watch for in the overuse of |
| time it also provides the stimulus which will cause | | | | paracetamol are tarry, black or bloody stools, a |
| your finger to swell and, in this case, swelling is | | | | skin rash and a sore throat. Very occasionally |
| simply the body's reaction to the increased flow | | | | overuse will also result in lip ulcers or in white |
| of blood into the area surrounding the injury. By | | | | spots inside the mouth. |
| interfering with the production of prostaglandins | | | | Whether you should reach for the aspirin or a |
| aspirin both reduces the pain felt and also the | | | | paracetamol tablet to cure your headache is |
| degree of swelling. | | | | something of a matter of personal choice and for |
| Unlike aspirin, paracetamol does not act as an | | | | most people who suffer only occasional |
| anti-inflammatory and does not block the effects | | | | headaches it probably does not matter, unless |
| of the enzyme necessary for the production of | | | | other conditions would make you susceptible to |
| prostaglandins, but it does inhibit this enzyme. In | | | | the risk of side effects from one or other of |
| other words, it acts to block the pain but not to | | | | these two drugs. If you find however that you |
| reduce the swelling. | | | | are having to reach for either too frequently then |
| There are several advantages to using | | | | you should consult your physician to discuss the |
| paracetamol not the least of which is that it does | | | | best course of action for curing your headaches. |
| not weaken the lining of the stomach or carry | | | | |