Natural pain and inflammation relief
Healthy people who take Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to relieve minor aches and pains may raise their risk of dying from heart-related problems, a Danish study found a year ago.
The American Heart Association and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration already warn people with heart disease to be cautious about taking NSAIDs, which include ibuprofen (brand named Advil, Motrin) and diclofenac.
"Very few studies have been designed to answer the important question: Do NSAIDs also increase the cardiovascular risk among healthy people who use these drugs for minor complaints?" said lead author Dr. Emil L. Fosbol, a cardiologist at Gentofte University Hospital in Hellerup. "This study is the first to confirm that the cardiovascular risk is indeed increased when healthy individuals use some of the drugs."
The risks for different NSAIDs — found in an analysis of national medical records of more than one million Danes from 1997 to 2005 — varied widely. Participants, whose average age was 39, who used ibuprofen had a 29 percent greater risk of fatal or nonfatal stroke, compared to those who took no NSAID.
Use of diclofenac (Voltaren and Cataflam) was associated with a 91 percent higher risk of death from all cardiovascular diseases, while rofecoxib (Vioxx) use was associated with a 66 percent increased risk. But the study found no increased risk of cardiovascular problems — indeed, a slightly lower risk of death — associated with naproxen, sold over the counter with brand names including Aleve.
For people taking the largest doses, diclofenac was associated with a doubled risk of heart attack, and rofecoxib (Vioxx) was associated with a threefold increased risk of heart attack. Vioxx was taken off the U.S. market in 2004 because of a study finding high rates of heart attack and stroke.
The percentage increases in the study were large, but the absolute overall risk in otherwise healthy people was small, Farkouh said. Nevertheless,"before you take any medication, you should consult with a physician, particularly these medications," he said.
That warning applies especially to people who exercise regularly and are thus more likely to take an NSAID for muscle and joint pain, Farkouh said. Regular use of an NSAID increases the risk not only of cardiovascular problems but also of bleeding, a known side effect of the medications, he said.
I now always try to avoid taking NSAIDs for any kind of pain, preferring natural solutions, however at one time when adventure racing I used to consume Ibuprofen continuously every 4 hours during multi day races, perhaps I would not have done so if I knew of the increased risks, perhaps that can explain why there has been a few sudden deaths in the sport.
David Ogden
CEO TheInterbiz LLC
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