Aspirin (I) Discovery, Current and Potential New Therapeutic Uses, and Mechanism of Action

Aspirin is one of the oldest synthetic drugs and remains the most widely used medical agent. It is a household remedy effective in treating such common ailments as headache, minor muscular pain and fever. Aspirin is the drug choice for rheumatic fever and arthritis which some five million Americans suffer. Lately it has been established by double-blind and randomized clinical studies that regular aspirin intake reduces the incidence of mild strokes and heart attackes.