3 ms·
I kind of get a kick out of the idea that no one actually knows how anti inflammatory painkillers actually work. There are tons of mysteries in our bodies
by tayo42 5y ago
I kind of get a kick out of the idea that no one actually knows how anti inflammatory painkillers actually work. There are tons of mysteries in our bodies
- MengerSponge 5y agoWe also don't really get how anaesthesia works. Like, the local pain interactions? All good. The general loss of consciousness? Nope.
- atdrummond 5y agoAlso asking for clarification here. We’ve made a lot of progress understanding the target nerve cell proteins of many general anesthetics. Certainly this is young research but I don’t feel like we’re completely in the dark - there’s been heaps of progress here just in my short, 30+ year life and even since I studied medicine last decade.
- MengerSponge 5y agoIt's almost a tautology, but one that is adjacent to deep truths. We don't understand how consciousness emerges, so we can't explain how some relatively simple molecules temporarily suspend it. We know a lot about local interactions, but the big picture isn't there yet. More, as you well know, is different.
- atdrummond 5y agoCan you expand on what you mean? I ask because we know NSAIDs’ impact on the cyclooxygenase enzymatic pathways and the corresponding impact that the reduction of prostaglandins has on bodily inflammation.
- tayo42 5y agomight have gotten my otc medicine mixed up, acetaminophen is the painkiller that's still unknown i think. i would say a google search is probably more interesting that anything I have for you.
- tata71 5y agoAren't there new studies emerging regarding acetaminophen destroying the empathy (is this parasympathetic, or sympathetic?), due to nervous system harm?