There are also a host of other serious health problems associated with taking NSAIDs that include kidney, liver, and stomach problems, particularly stomach bleeding and ulcers, and high blood pressure.
According to a study published January 3, 2005, in the American Gastroenterological Association journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, chronic users of NSAIDs have an increased risk of bleeding and visible damage to their small intestine.
The study analyzed 43 relatively healthy patients, who used NSAIDs daily for relief of pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or non-specific arthritis, and a control group who did not use NSAIDs or aspirin for their arthritis symptoms.
Results show that 71% of those exposed to NSAIDs for more than 90 days had visible injury to their small intestine ranging from small erosions to severe ulcers.
"We have always known that NSAIDs can cause potentially deadly stomach complications, but the extent of the impact on the small intestine was largely unknown until now," Dr David Graham, MD, lead author of the study told Science Daily.
According to Dr Thomas Stuttaford, in the May 26, 2006, UK Times Online, the hazards of NSAIDs "causing an exacerbation of indigestion and the gastro-intestinal complications associated with it, such as gastro-intestinal bleeding and even perforation, are well known."
"Care is needed," he warned, "when prescribing these drugs for patients over 65, especially if there is any history of peptic ulceration, whether gastric or duodenal, or of chronic indigestion."
In May 2005, Web MD reported that "for people with high blood pressure, some types of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can be risky."
People with high blood pressure are at special risk, according to Web MD, because some of the NSAIDs reduce the blood flow to the kidneys, which filter the blood, causing them to work more slowly which causes fluid to build up in the body. As a result, the increased fluid drives up blood pressure.
In addition, if taken often enough and at a high enough dose, the Web MD article warned, "they can seriously damage the kidneys."
"People with high blood pressure don't know the risks of taking some of these painkillers," Dr Nieca Goldberg, MD, a cardiologist and spokesperson for the American Heart Association told WebMD.
"They assume that anything you can buy over the counter is safe," he said. "But these drugs are chemicals that can cause side effects."
"When I have patients with heart disease that suddenly gets much worse," he advised, "the first thing I ask them is if they've used an over-the-counter pain medicine."
In August 2005, research published in Hypertension: Journal of the American Heart Association warned that women who consume higher doses of non-aspirin painkillers were much more likely to develop high blood pressure than women who do not use the medications.
The study was conducted to determine whether higher doses of pain relief drugs, specifically acetaminophen, NSAIDs, and aspirin, increase a woman's risk of developing new-onset high blood pressure.
"Because high blood pressure is among the most important causes of death and disease in the United States, and analgesics are the most frequently used medications, a relationship between the two would be important from a public health standpoint," said lead author John Forman, MD, instructor in medicine, Harvard Medical School, and associate physician, renal division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA.
According to a study published January 3, 2005, in the American Gastroenterological Association journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, chronic users of NSAIDs have an increased risk of bleeding and visible damage to their small intestine.
The study analyzed 43 relatively healthy patients, who used NSAIDs daily for relief of pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or non-specific arthritis, and a control group who did not use NSAIDs or aspirin for their arthritis symptoms.
Results show that 71% of those exposed to NSAIDs for more than 90 days had visible injury to their small intestine ranging from small erosions to severe ulcers.
According to Dr Thomas Stuttaford, in the May 26, 2006, UK Times Online, the hazards of NSAIDs "causing an exacerbation of indigestion and the gastro-intestinal complications associated with it, such as gastro-intestinal bleeding and even perforation, are well known."
"Care is needed," he warned, "when prescribing these drugs for patients over 65, especially if there is any history of peptic ulceration, whether gastric or duodenal, or of chronic indigestion."
In May 2005, Web MD reported that "for people with high blood pressure, some types of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can be risky."
People with high blood pressure are at special risk, according to Web MD, because some of the NSAIDs reduce the blood flow to the kidneys, which filter the blood, causing them to work more slowly which causes fluid to build up in the body. As a result, the increased fluid drives up blood pressure.
In addition, if taken often enough and at a high enough dose, the Web MD article warned, "they can seriously damage the kidneys."
"People with high blood pressure don't know the risks of taking some of these painkillers," Dr Nieca Goldberg, MD, a cardiologist and spokesperson for the American Heart Association told WebMD.
"They assume that anything you can buy over the counter is safe," he said. "But these drugs are chemicals that can cause side effects."
"When I have patients with heart disease that suddenly gets much worse," he advised, "the first thing I ask them is if they've used an over-the-counter pain medicine."
In August 2005, research published in Hypertension: Journal of the American Heart Association warned that women who consume higher doses of non-aspirin painkillers were much more likely to develop high blood pressure than women who do not use the medications.
The study was conducted to determine whether higher doses of pain relief drugs, specifically acetaminophen, NSAIDs, and aspirin, increase a woman's risk of developing new-onset high blood pressure.
"Because high blood pressure is among the most important causes of death and disease in the United States, and analgesics are the most frequently used medications, a relationship between the two would be important from a public health standpoint," said lead author John Forman, MD, instructor in medicine, Harvard Medical School, and associate physician, renal division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA.
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