FREE ESSAY ON THE EFFECTS OF PAINKILLERS ON THE HEARTRATE OF A DAPHNIA?

THE EFFECTS OF PAINKILLERS ON THE HEARTRATE OF A DAPHNIA?

Late one afternoon, a lady was driving home in the rush hour traffic. The last thing she
needed was a pounding headache. While she was stopped, she dug in her purse for some
aspirin to relieve her headache. She chugged it down with the Pepsi sitting by the seat.
Her only worry was to relieve her headache. The affect of the painkiller on the other
parts of her body was not a concern to her at that point in time.
Should people wonder if their painkillers are affecting their body? Should people know
how painkillers are affecting their heart, heart rate, or even worse, causing heart
disease? It may just be the ingredients of a pill. Often the side effects of medication
are discovered too late. "Phentermine and fenfluramine are not only a diet pill
ingredient but also causes heart valve problems." (Gorman 113) This is just one example
of the things that may cause heart problems. They could also include an ingredient in a
painkiller or other medications that a person could be taking.
There are many different types of painkillers, the most common include Aspirin, Tylenol,
and Ibuprofen. Aspirin, is used to relieve minor headaches, reduce fevers, colds,
muscular aches, menstrual discomfort, toothaches and arthritis pain. Tylenol, is
primarily for the relieve of minor aches and pains associated with headache, muscular
aches, backache, minor arthritis pain, common cold, toothache, and menstrual cramps and
for the reduction of fever. Ibuprofen, also relieves minor aches and pains due to colds,
headaches, toothaches, and reduction of fevers. 
But yet, why may they affect the heart? The heart is found behind the breastbone. The
heart is a hollow muscular organ that balances the circulation of blood. Blood then
passes through four chambers that are separated by valves. "Valves control the blood
movement inside the heart." (Funk and Wagnals 273) What kinds of heart diseases are
caused from painkillers or at least what kinds of heart diseases are there?
One of the types of heart diseases is a heart attack. A heart attack occurs when a
section of muscle is damaged. Scar tissue then replaces the damaged muscle tissue. This
then affects its future performance. A heart attack is caused by total blockage by a
blood clot (thrombus) or arteriosclerosis, artery linings clog, or blocked by fatty
deposits and the lack of blood flow to the heart. "Increasing the chances of having a
heart attack include hypertension, which rises the resistance in blood vessels pumping
the heart harder for the flow of blood. Extra cholesterol in blood raises the development
of arteriosclerosis; taking birth control pills can also increase the chances of having a
heart attack. A heart attack may occur at anytime." (Funk and Wagnals' 273-276) Heart
attacks are still the number one causes of death. Heart attacks that are not fatal may
lead to shocks, cardiac arrhythmia, irregular heartbeat or heart failure. This is only
one type of heart disease, so what are the others?
Another type of heart disease is a heart murmur, which is just simply an abnormal sound
in the heartbeat. A heart murmurs is a way for the doctor to detect if that patient can
lead up to a heart disease or conditions. "Vibrations or turbulence in bloodstream are
known as organic or structural heart murmurs. Unless it is not organic or structural, it
can not affect the length of life." (Funk and Wagnals 278) A heart murmur may exist at
birth but it is not hereditary. A doctor listening directly to the heart or with a
slethoscope can only detect a heart murmur. This is two types of diseases, there are
more. What other kinds are there?
High blood pressure is another type of disease. High blood pressure also known as
hypertension can also be considered as a heart disease. "Hypertension is often ignored,
cholesterol levels for some reason are most worried about. High blood pressure is just as
bad or even worse than high cholesterol. High blood pressure can increase the risks of
heart diseases, strokes, and failure of the kidneys." (Gorman 73) Hypertension patients
are to take one or more prescription drugs, and avoid over the counter remedies, "these
could cause the blood pressure to increase." (Gorman 73) High blood pressure is caused
from the body's temperature increasing.
A human body maintains the temperature of ninety-eight and six-tenths degrees Fahrenheit.
"When the body is over heated it can stimulate the sweat glands, as the water evaporates,
the skin is then caused to cool. As this is happening, it causes blood vessels to
dialate. Blood that travels in the human body carries the heat that travels to the
surface of the skin, where it is then cooled and is ready to be reheated. This causes the
rate of the heart to increase, which in turn increases the rate of respiration. This also
causes an increase in the blood pressure. The process of homeostatic mechanism regulates
the blood pressure." (Hole 11) Measuring the heartbeat and blood pressure. So how do you
measure a heartbeat?
A heartbeat is measured at the wrist, neck, temple, groin, behind knees, or even at the
top of the foot. These are areas where the artery passes close to the skin. Count the
beats for a full minute. "A new born baby regularly beats at one hundred to a
hundred-sixty beats per minute; a child between the age of one and ten regularly beats at
seventy to a hundred-twenty beats per minute; a child over the age of ten to an adult
regularly beats at sixty to a hundred beats per minute; a well-trained athlete's
regularly beats at forty to sixty beats per minute." (Health Excite 1-3) A fever,
stimulant drugs (including decongestants), anemia, heart failure, infection, shock,
exercise, sex, excitement, nervousness, taking a hot shower or bath and pain; can all
increase the number of heartbeats per minute. Arrhythmia is a heartbeat that is anything
different from normal, rapid and a consistent beat. This can be caused by the improper
use of drugs. So what is the heart rate of a Daphnia?
A Daphnia is an ectohermic animal, which means that it is a cold-blooded mammal that has
a direct relationship of physiological activities and environmental temperature rates.
"For example: when cold it is active after lying in the sun. Animal metabolism rates
increase as the temperature increases, five degrees Celsius to thirty-five degree
Celsius." (Biology Lab 94)
Some researchers have found that some medications have an effect on the heart rate. But
can these same effects becoming from painkillers. Can the same affects of painkillers on
the human heart be the same on the heart of a Daphnia? What are the effects? What does it
damage? What does it cure if any?
Bibliography
Gorman, Christine. "Diet pill Redux." Time 21 S. 1998: 113.
"Heart." Funk and Wagnals Family Medical Guide. 1990 ed.
"Heart Attack." Funk and Wagnals Family Medical Guide. 1990 ed.
"Heart Murmurs." Funk and Wagnals Family Medical Guide. 1990 ed.
Gorman, Christine. "Pressure check." Time 20 Au. 1999: 73
Hole, John W. Jr. Human Anatomy And Physiology. Dubuque, Iowa: Wm. C. Brown Publishers,
1987.
"Pulse (heart rate)" Excite Health 1999: 3 page. On-line. Internet. 17 Oct. 2000.
Available: http://health.excite.com/contest/asset/adam_test_heart_rate.
College Entrance Examination Board. Advanced Placement of Biology Laboratory Manual For
Students. 1991.