Final answer:
Aspirin is a medication used to treat pain, fever, and inflammation. It can inhibit platelet aggregation, making it an anticoagulant. Patients should be cautious with aspirin use due to the risk of side effects such as ulcers, bleeding, and liver damage.
Step-by-step explanation:
Aspirin is a medication used to treat pain, fever, and inflammation. It is effective at inhibiting the aggregation of platelets, making it an anticoagulant. However, it can also lead to serious side effects such as an increased risk of ulcers and bleeding.
Patients should consult a physician before starting any aspirin regimen, especially if they have a history of stomach bleeding or ulcers, are taking prescription blood thinners or steroids, or have other bleeding problems. Additionally, individuals over the age of 60, taking diuretics, or with high blood pressure, heart disease, or pre-existing kidney disease should be cautious with aspirin use due to the risk of kidney damage.
Acetaminophen is an alternative to aspirin for pain relief, but it does not have anti-inflammatory properties. However, an acute overdose of acetaminophen can cause severe liver damage. It is important to note that acetaminophen does not inhibit platelet aggregation, so it is not useful for preventing vascular clotting.