Aspirin: The cure to a broken heart?
Does science have a remedy for a painful break-up? Some specialists worked on the question and came up with the following proposal.
Treating a difficult break-up as a disease – what a funny idea! Nevertheless, according to some specialists, the analgesic could ease the sadness and pain connected to the separation. Here is their explanation.
ASPIRIN, THE MEDICINE FOR A BROKEN HEART
According to Dr Walter Mischel, eminent psychologist at the University of Columbia, the psychological suffering connected to a break-up is similar to physical pain. So, to look at a photo of our ex-partner can activate the same regions of the brain associated with physical pain such as a burn on the arm. This explains the specialist’s recommendation to take two aspirin tablets to treat the problem.
And he is not a visionary. Other studies have already shown that taking painkillers enables us to better manage our feelings following a separation. At this stage, we tend to say to ourselves, “why not?” But there is a small problem: an unhappy love affair can last for a long time and all medicine have side effects. Aspirin, for example, can cause acid reflux and even stomach ulcers. It is better to avoid taking it in the long-term, except on medical advice and in some very precise cases. And, you will have probably guessed it, the broken heart is not a part of the “pathology” for what the aspirin is recommended. Even if the medicine relieves in some cases, it is not a miracle cure.
In brief, until science finds the real solution (if one exists), we can turn ourselves to another remedy that has proven its efficiency: let time pass and show resilience. This solution may be less attractive, but is much more effective.
Maureen Diament
