Final answer:
Aspirin is an NSAID that exerts its effects by irreversibly inhibiting COX enzymes, which impairs prostaglandin synthesis and has anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant properties. Despite its beneficial effects in pain relief and heart disease prevention, aspirin can cause adverse reactions and its half-life is much shorter than 7 days.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the pharmacological effects of aspirin, which is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Aspirin functions by inhibiting cyclooxygenases (COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes), which are responsible for converting arachidonic acid into prostaglandins, hence it affects the prostaglandin synthesis involved in inflammation, pain, and blood clotting. Specifically, aspirin irreversibly acetylates the serine residue in COX enzymes, leading to a decrease in the production of thromboxanes and prostaglandins. This mechanism provides its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anticoagulant properties. However, it can cause side effects such as gastrointestinal issues, and in some individuals, provoke asthmatic reactions. The half-life of aspirin is not 7 days; it is much shorter, typically around 20 minutes to 2 hours in its standard form, though it can have lasting effects due to the irreversible inhibition of the COX enzymes.