The Dangers Of Using Painkillers: Over-The-Counter Drugs Triples The Risk Of Developing A Stroke Or Heart Attack

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Painkillers, which are normally under the name of Advil, Aleve, and Motril, are most people's option in case they are not feeling well. Although it works magically alleviating the pain, a new research suggests that these can bring more harm rather than provide any good. The over-the-counters painkillers which usually contains ibuprofen have been found out to triple the risk of developing a heart attack.

The research evaluated its claims by gathering data from almost 10,000 patients who have suffered a heart attack in Taiwan over a seven-year period. The researchers' goal is to find out the effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in accordance with a heart attack. The study. which was published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, also monitors symptoms for acute respiratory infections, like cold or flu.

The results showed 3.4 chance of heart attack risk while using oral painkillers for respiratory infection while an alarming 7.2 fold for patients who have taken the drugs through hospital drip. Meanwhile, those who were not taking NSAIDs but had infection were at risk of 2.7 greater compared to a healthy person.

"Physicians should be aware that the use of NSAIDs during an acute respiratory infection might further increase the risk of a heart attack," said Cheng-Chung Fang, the study author from National Taiwan University Hospital. However, he advised that further studies were necessary to back up the issue.

According to Daily Mail Online, the warning about the use of painkillers have already set in in 2005. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) already cautioned users about its risk of having a stroke or heart attack. Meanwhile, Natural Health 365 suggests that instead of using the fatal drug, a cardiac patient should rather opt for a safer alternative, acetaminophen. However, patients should not use over 3,250 mg per day as it may damage the liver.