A new study argues that aspirin could be able to reduce the harmful consequences tied to air pollution. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (among which we can count NSAIDs), among which we can count aspirin, can mitigate lung damage, which is tied to air pollution.
During the study, the researchers observed data collected from 2,280 male veterans with an average age of 73 years. A selection of sets assessed their lung function. The data obtained from the participants was examined in contrast to previous tests, consumption of NSAID medicine, a selection of other factors, among which we can count the overall health status and if the participant was a smoker or not.
The researchers discovered that the use of any drug which is a part of the NSAID family reduced the effects of air pollution on lung function by almost 50%, with the results being consistent over four weeks of air pollution measurements and tests.
As most of the participants who consumed NSAIDs stated that they use aspirin for the study mentions that the benefic influence was generated by aspirin positive effect, but the use of non-aspirin NSAIDs could be explored in the future.
Within the paper it is mentioned the consumption of aspirin and others, can reduce the inflammation caused by air pollution. However, this doesn’t mean that NSAIDs can be used as a new treatment against this issue. It is critical to minimize exposure to air pollution, which can lead to a variety of diseases, from cancer to health problems.
In recent years new environmental policies have strived to reduce exposure to air pollution, even in areas were the levels, already low, since they can be affected by short-term spikes. More needs to be done to improve these strategies and enhance their potential in the future. Vitamin B may also have positive effects but further research is needed.
The study was published in a scientific journal.
Doris’s passion for writing started to take shape in college where she was editor-in-chief of the college newspaper. Even though she ended up working in IT for more than 7 years, she’s now back to what he always enjoyed doing. With a true passion for technology, Doris mostly covers tech-related topics.