{"id":25456,"date":"2026-07-27T15:46:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-27T18:46:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/icaro.med.br\/?p=25456"},"modified":"2026-07-27T23:08:46","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T02:08:46","slug":"aas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/icaro.med.br\/en\/aas\/","title":{"rendered":"ASA (Aspirin): It's good for much more than just headaches and inflammation"},"content":{"rendered":"<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DbTUHhlOQlx\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"><div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DbTUHhlOQlx\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\"> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewbox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"><g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><g transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\"><g><path d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div><div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\"> <div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">See this photo on Instagram<\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\"><div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: auto;\"> <div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div><\/div><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/a><p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DbTUHhlOQlx\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by Dr. \u00cdcaro Alves (@dricaroalves)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you've been told that ASA (acetylsalicylic acid), also known as aspirin, is only used for headaches, fever, pain, and inflammation, it might be time to update that information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">AAS is considered one of the most extensively studied drugs in the history of medicine. In addition to its traditional uses, scientists have been investigating various other potential benefits\u2014though it is important to remember that none of these justify self-medication. All prescriptions must be tailored to the individual and administered under medical supervision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Obviously, no medication can replace healthy lifestyle habits, which remain the foundation of prevention and treatment for virtually all diseases (as I explain in <a href=\"https:\/\/dominesuasaude.com.br\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/dominesuasaude.com.br\/<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Its primary mechanism of action is the inhibition of the COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes, which reduces the production of prostaglandins, important mediators of inflammation. However, its systemic effects appear to go far beyond that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It can HELP with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u2705Anticancer action (prevention and adjuvant treatment)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Chronic inflammation is one of the factors that contribute to the development and progression of various cancers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By reducing COX-2 and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) activity, ASA may inhibit mechanisms involved in tumor angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels) and in the suppression of the local immune response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Observational studies and some clinical trials show a reduced risk of colorectal cancer with regular use of low doses in selected populations. There is also research suggesting possible benefits for breast, prostate, and esophageal cancers, although the evidence is still less consistent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In some contexts, low doses are being studied as a possible strategy for promoting longevity and preventing cancer, but this decision must always carefully weigh the risks of bleeding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u2705Cardiovascular Health<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ASA reduces platelet aggregation (\u201cthins the blood\u201d), thereby reducing the formation of blood clots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, current guidelines no longer recommend its routine use for primary prevention in healthy individuals, since, in many cases, the risk of bleeding outweighs the benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the other hand, in secondary prevention (for those who have already suffered a heart attack or ischemic stroke, or who have established cardiovascular disease), it remains one of the most important medications in cardiology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are also patients with a high risk of inflammation or thrombosis who may benefit from its use following an individualized medical evaluation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u2705Neuroinflammation, Cognition, and Mood<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today we know that inflammatory processes play a role in the development of neurodegenerative diseases and some forms of depression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because it reduces inflammatory mediators, ASA has been studied as an adjunctive treatment for treatment-resistant depression, bipolar disorder, and Alzheimer's disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some studies also suggest an improvement in what is known as \u201cbrain fog\u201d in individuals with high levels of systemic inflammation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although promising, this is still a field in the process of evolving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u2705May help reduce excess estradiol\/estrone (estrogen dominance)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Prostaglandin E2 stimulates the enzyme aromatase, which is responsible for converting testosterone into estrogen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By reducing PGE2, AAS may exert a modest inhibitory effect on aromatase in certain situations, a hypothesis that is still under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u2705Mitochondrial function<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Under certain experimental conditions, AAS can act as a mild mitochondrial uncoupler, increasing energy expenditure and CO\u2082 production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Laboratory studies also suggest that it may stimulate mitochondrial biogenesis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, this effect is dose-dependent, and high doses can be toxic to mitochondria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u2705Erectile dysfunction*<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By reducing endothelial inflammation and promoting the nitric oxide (NO) pathway, ASA may help improve vasodilation in some patients whose erectile dysfunction has a vascular or inflammatory component.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This potential benefit still requires more robust studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u2705Possible antiviral and antifungal action*<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">AAS does not act as an antibiotic or as a direct antiviral.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, by modulating the body's inflammatory response, it can influence the interaction between the host and certain infectious agents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This mechanism is still being investigated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u2705Reduction in inflammatory stress*<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Chronic inflammation and activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis often go hand in hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By reducing inflammatory mediators, ASA may help reduce this activation in certain clinical conditions, a hypothesis that is still being studied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u26a0\ufe0f Important Disclaimers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Self-medication with ASA\u2014even at so-called \u201clow doses\u201d (81\u2013100 mg)\u2014can pose significant risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Among them:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>gastritis, ulcers, and gastrointestinal bleeding;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>reduced protection of the digestive mucosa due to COX-1 inhibition;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>a possible increase in intestinal permeability in some people;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>increased risk of bleeding, especially when used in combination with anticoagulants or other antiplatelet agents.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Long-term use may also alter the nutritional status of some patients and, in certain situations, may be associated with reduced levels of vitamin C, iron, folate, and potassium. When chronic use is indicated, it is worth evaluating on a case-by-case basis the need for monitoring and, if necessary, replenishment of these nutrients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At high doses, ASA can cause salicylate poisoning. One of the first signs is usually ringing in the ears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition, ASA should never be administered to children or adolescents with viral infections, due to the risk of Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc49 Like virtually everything in medicine, ASA is neither a \u201cvillain\u201d nor a \u201cmiracle cure.\u201d It is an extremely interesting, inexpensive, and well-studied tool that can offer significant benefits when properly prescribed, but can also cause harm when used indiscriminately.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ver essa foto no Instagram Um post compartilhado por Dr. \u00cdcaro Alves (@dricaroalves) Se te disseram que o AAS (\u00e1cido acetilsalic\u00edlico), tamb\u00e9m conhecido como aspirina, serve apenas para dor de cabe\u00e7a, febre, dor e inflama\u00e7\u00e3o, talvez esteja na hora de atualizar esse conhecimento. O AAS \u00e9 considerado um dos medicamentos mais estudados da hist\u00f3ria da [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":25458,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25456","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-saude-geral"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/icaro.med.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25456","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/icaro.med.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/icaro.med.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/icaro.med.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/icaro.med.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25456"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/icaro.med.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25456\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25457,"href":"https:\/\/icaro.med.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25456\/revisions\/25457"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/icaro.med.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25458"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/icaro.med.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25456"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/icaro.med.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25456"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/icaro.med.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25456"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}