Who tells Medicine to work where?

So last night I went for a run from my house to my Grandfather’s house – we eat dinner there every Monday, so I would just get a lift back home with my husband after dinner – it was a really good run, I enjoyed it so much, there was a lot of hills but I managed to run it in a personal best time – 46min in fact! I also had some motivation in running fast – because my Grandfather doesn’t like it if were late for dinner, lol, so I ran fast.

It was about 7.5km run and when my muscles started to cool down I could feel my right knee acting up – I’ve had an issue with ITband (so I know its technically not my knee that is giving the issue) for a few months and was out for the whole winter with it – so I need to fix it ASAP – I cannot be out for that long again, I will go mad.

So I went to the medicine cupboard and got an Anti-inflammatory – hoping it would do the job – However It made me wonder:

How does this little white tablet know where to go and work – I mean it doesn’t get told,

“Listen now mister pill, my knee is hurtin! – get it done”

And when my husband drinks them for headaches – then it also works for him, but in a different part of the body? So how exactly does it work?

I did some reading and found all these very intellectual websites that all basically explain the same thing – but this one had the best explanation for me – I also had a look at some explanations in Diagram form for those of you who think about things more visually – like me

This is what Medical news today has to say on what Anti-inflammatories or NSAIDs do – the article was written recently by Written by Markus MacGill and you can click here for the article.

NSAIDs work by hindering the formation of compounds known as prostaglandins. Prostaglandins play an important role in the body’s inflammatory response.

These compounds produce chemical signals that calling up the immune system’s inflammatory responses. Reducing the amount of prostaglandins that are produced by tissue damage, in turn, reduces inflammation.

NSAIDs block an enzyme called cyclooxygenase, also known as COX or Cox. The COX enzyme helps the reactions that produce prostaglandins.

Blocking COX also inhibits the function of platelets, cells in the blood that clot to help prevent bleeding. This function gives NSAIDs their anticlotting property.

So I hope that makes sense – Below is my understanding placed into a very simple illustration:

So it appears that the medication will go to any part of your body that has inflammation, and sort it out that way.

If I got any of this wrong please feel free to let me know – leave me a comment below!

Have a lovely day – Remember to listen to your body – it’s the only one you got!

XOXOX – Jani