Organic Lifestyle Magazine

NSAIDs Study Shows Side Effects are Worse Than Original Ailments

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Last updated on: May 19, 2017

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A systematic review of studies that involved nearly half a million people concluded that people who used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are at increased risk of heart attacks. People who used a higher dose of NSAIDs were at greater risk. The duration of medication use didn’t matter, as researchers saw an increased likelihood of myocardial infarctions after a single day. While we already knew about the negative effects of NSAIDs on the cardiovascular system, this size of this study makes it even more clear how carefully we need to consider the medications we chose.

According to SpineHealth.com, the four most common NSAIDs are:

  • Aspirin: Bayer, Bufferin, and Ecotrin, St. Joseph
  • Ibuprofen: Advil, Motrin
  • Naproxen: Aleve, Anaprox DS, Naprosyn
  • Celecoxib: Celebrex

The Report Card Isn’t Promising

All of the NSAIDs looked at correlated to an increased chance of heart attack, and the percentage of increase ranged from 20 to 50 percent. Since the last use of the drug, risks decrease over time.

According to the lead author of the study, Michèle Bally, the absolute increase in risk is quite small. Which makes sense, as the risk of heart attack for most people is small. But this isn’t the only bodily system that NSAIDs don’t agree with.

High dosage or prolonged use of NSAIDs can result in chronic kidney diseases like chronic interstitial nephritis. While NSAIDs are not as likely as acetaminophen (Tylenol) to cause liver damage, they have been associated with ulcers or gastrointestinal bleeding in large doses. If you’re keeping track, that’s potential damage to three of the most important systems in the body, cardiovascular, urinary, and gastrointestinal.

Saving for a Rainy Day

People seem comfortable using NSAIDs for everyday aches like joint pain, headaches, swelling, and fevers. So is it worth it? Not with more sustainable and healthier options available, like the recommended reading below.

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Kristina Martin

Kristina Martin

Kristina works at Green Lifestyle Market. A few years ago Kristina was no stranger to illness, but she decided to pursue health and vitality through natural means when she became pregnant. She quickly learned that she could prevent morning sickness and other common ailments other pregnant woman experienced with the right diet. After a healthy home birth, and a beautiful child, she never looked back. Kristina has not had so much as a cold since, and at two years old and unvaccinated, neither has her child. She's passionate about natural health, environmental conservation, and raising her healthy baby without pharmaceuticals.

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