Use Over the Counter Pain Relievers with Caution
When you get a headache, what do you take for it? More than likely it’s an over-the-counter pain reliever such as aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Either one of these non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS) will usually do the trick – giving you fast relief. But did you know that taking them too often could be harmful? Especially if you have a pre-existing health condition, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, these supposedly beneficial non-prescription pain relievers, sometimes used to protect heart health, could be deadly.
A Dose of Bad Health
NSAIDS are made from chemicals. If you run to the medicine cabinet to pop a couple of pills whenever you don’t feel right, you could eventually overtax your body’s natural ability to flush them out of your system. Over time you could experience some serious side effects which may include the following:
• Intestinal bleeding and ulcers
• Liver damage
• Heart attack or stroke
• Kidney disorders
• Sudden death
NSAIDS, if taken properly, relieve common aches and pains, infections and fever. They can even prevent blood clots that could cause heart attack or stroke. But prolonged use can do more harm than good.
Be Smart with Medications
Think about how often you take non- prescription drugs. Be aware, especially if you take prescription medications for serious health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, or even depression, because NSAIDS can react badly with other medications you take.
In fact, make it your personal rule to check first with your doctor before taking any medication, including over-the-counter drugs.
How refreshing to hear someone else talk about the dangers of NSAIDs. They are so often prescribed for people with osteoarthritis (an ANTI INFLAMMATORY drug for a NON-INFLAMMATORY arthritis?) who take them for years as their condition cannot be cured. It is the soft tissue which is inflamed so ice, heat and physical therapy can give excellent pain relief without the side effects. It also improves the scaffolding around the joint allowing the person to do more with less pain. Use the pain medication only when all else has failed. End result you take less chemicals into your body and suffer fewer side effects.