The 110th Aspirin anniversary.
 The 8 of august of 1897 for the first time ever the acetylsalicylic acid was synthesised, from which still new applications and properties are discovered.Daily there is a consumption of more than 216 million of these tablets and Spain has 85% of the world wide production of acetylsalicylic acid.
 This Wednesday 8 of August was the 110th anniversary of the discovery of the aspirin by the German chemist Felix Hoffman. It was in these dates when the investigator together with the pharmacologist Hinrich Dreser synthesised for the first time its principle active, the acetylsalicylic acid, when he searched for a remedy to alleviate the rheumatoid arthritis of his father.
We have to go many years back in time, to the Ancient Greece, to find the origins f the acetylsalicylic acid, Hipócrates, father of the occidental medicine, used sap of white willow (rich in salicilates) to alleviate pain and fever. As well in Rome this practice was carried out, although it is not until 1763, when the real scientific story of the salicylic substances starts.
During the next centuries new discoveries were made of new uses for this substance and by the end of the XIX century, the salicylic acid extended to treat different types of pain, included the rheumatoid acute arthritis, the neuralgic and fever; uses which lead to the start of its industrial production and distribution.
 From 1897 onwards the drug changed name thanks to Felix Hoffman who combined the salicylic with the acetic acid, obtaining in this way the acetylsalicylic acid, substance which proved to have better properties and less contraindications. Two years later, Hoffman started to commercialize the substanc under the name of Aspirin under the protection of Bayer, company where the chemist worked.
 In this way, for 110 years, the Aspirin is used to alleviate different types of pain, to reduce fever, inflammation, and in small doses, to prevent cardiovascular diseases. According to data of the Spanish Society of Pain the 54,39% of persons which suffer some sort of pain recur to the Aspirin, a drug which is present in more than 80% of the Spanish first aid kits, data which reaffirms its big popularity.
The Aspirin has been and continues to be object of multiple studies and investigations, as, although it is one of the most known drugs in the world, there continues to be new discoveries on its properties.
In the last year there have been carried out around 3500 studies on the acetylsalicylic acid. As well, Aspirin continues to promote the investigations related with the acetylsalicylic acid, as the German neurologist, Diener, given the prize Aspirine 2007 for his studies about the treatment of migraines with Aspirines.
 The last investigations published point that the Aspirin could have a future in the therapy against cancer. The Australian Gabriel A. Kune was the first to discover in 1988 that the regular use of acetylsalicylic acid could reduce the risk of colorectal cancer in a 40%. This discovery was confirmed by a study of 80000 nurses samples in EEUU, which showed the properties of Aspirin in the treatment of colorectal cancer.
CURIOSITIES
Essential- The OMS considers Aspirin an essential drug due to its efficacy, tolerability and accessibility.
 The most popular - Is the most consumed drug in the world. Present in any first aid kit, constitutes the biggest ally against any pain. An enquiry carried out by the Spanish Society of Pain, reveals that 54.39% of persons which suffer some sort of pain recur to Aspirin to alleviate it.
Numbers.- At present time, the Spaniards take an average of 17 Aspirin tablets every year. The 2500 tables of Aspirin which are consumed every second in the entire world could equal, if we where to place them one on top of another, the height of the statue of Colon of Barcelona. This means that in one day 86400 statues could be built.
With Own Name .- In 1936 the Royal Spanish Academy of Language converted the brand Aspirin in substantive, due to its great popularity.
In the Moon - It was one of the pioneer drugs to reach to the moon, as Amstrong, Aldrin and Collins (first men to arrive to the moon), took with them Aspirin tablets on board the Apollo 11. |
Woman of 58 years of age who presents frontal migraine of oppressive type, followed by sensation of sicknesses and loss of consciousness.
Man of 49 years of age who begins a month ago with symptoms of intermittent yielding to the few meters. After physical exam emphasizes the absence of poplíteo pulse and distant in right lower member. 
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