For the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease, aspirin and statin are two drugs commonly used in clinical practice, and many patients are taking one or both of them.
There are many people who take these two drugs every day, but do you know how they work and when they are best taken? This article will introduce you to the knowledge of these two drugs.
01
How aspirin and statins work
Aspirin, the "patron saint" of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, also plays an indispensable role in treatment. Its main function is to fight platelet aggregation and prevent the formation of blood clots.
Similar to statins, aspirin is trusted by people with coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, cerebral infarction, and after cardiac surgery. In the aspirin family, regular tablets and enteric-coated tablets are the two main members.
Although their main ingredients are the same, they differ in pharmaceutical processes. Compared with ordinary aspirin tablets, enteric-coated tablets have a milder irritation of the gastrointestinal tract and bring a more comfortable experience to patients.
Enteric-coated tablets come in a variety of sizes, including 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg, and other options. Among them, low-dose aspirin is mainly used for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, while ordinary tablets are more used for antipyretic analgesia, and its dose can be as high as 500 mg per tablet.
Statins, the leader of this drug family, include the seven "warriors" of lovastatin, simvastatin, pravastatin, fluvastatin, atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, and pitavastatin.
Their common mission is to lower LDL cholesterol and raise HDL cholesterol, thereby exerting anti-inflammatory, vascular endothelium, stabilizing vascular plaque, and ultimately preventing the formation of blood clots.
These heroic "warriors" are especially useful for patients who have already had coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, cerebral infarction, and have undergone heart stent or bypass surgery.
02
Aspirin and statin, when is the best time to take it? Doctor: The effect of the medicine varies greatly depending on the time
aspirin
First of all, we should make it clear that the main role of aspirin is to inhibit platelet aggregation, thereby preventing the occurrence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Therefore, it is crucial for patients who need to take aspirin for a long time to choose a suitable time to take it.
After a lot of clinical research and medical practice, experts generally agree that the best time to take aspirin is after dinner.
This is because the body's blood viscosity is relatively high after dinner, and the risk of platelet aggregation is correspondingly increased. Taking aspirin at this time can effectively inhibit platelet aggregation and reduce the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
In addition, taking aspirin after dinner can also help reduce the irritation of the gastrointestinal tract from the drug. Aspirin taken on an empty stomach may cause certain damage to the gastric mucosa, causing stomach pain, nausea and other uncomfortable symptoms.
When taken after dinner, food can act as a buffer, reduce the irritation of the gastrointestinal tract and reduce the risk of adverse reactions.
Of course, in addition to after dinner, some patients may also need to take an additional dose of aspirin in the morning after waking up. This is mainly due to the fact that morning is the time when the body's blood pressure fluctuates greatly, and an additional dose of aspirin can better protect cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health.
In general, the best time to take aspirin is after dinner, but the exact dosage and frequency of taking it depends on the patient's specific condition and the doctor's recommendation.
Patients should also pay close attention to their physical condition during the aspirin process and seek medical advice if they have any discomfort or suspected allergic reactions.
Statins
First, we need to understand the mechanism of action of statins. These drugs reduce the amount of cholesterol in the blood, mainly by inhibiting the synthesis of cholesterol in the liver.
Considering that cholesterol synthesis is most active at night, it may theoretically be more appropriate to take statins at night.
However, in practice, the timing of statins is not set in stone. In fact, there are differences in how different individuals respond to drugs and how quickly they are metabolized.
Some people may be able to exert their cholesterol-lowering effects better after taking statins in the morning. Therefore, the exact time to take statins depends on the individual's specific situation and the doctor's recommendations.
In addition to the timing of taking, we also need to pay attention to the side effects and precautions of statins. For example, some people may experience adverse effects such as muscle pain and gastrointestinal discomfort after taking statins. Therefore, during the period of taking the drug, you should closely observe your physical condition, and if you feel unwell, you should seek medical advice in time.
In conclusion, the optimal time to take statins should be determined on an individual basis and on the advice of a doctor. During the process of taking the medication, we should be vigilant and pay attention to the physical condition to ensure that the medication can work optimally.