[Alert] Popular Pill Causing Heart Attacks?!?
Dear Reader,
If you’re like most people I know, you probably don’t think twice about popping a painkiller at the first hint of discomfort.
Well, maybe this will make you change your mind:
A new study published in the British Medical Journal found that taking popular anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen, naproxen, and celecoxib dramatically increases your risk of a heart attack—in as little as one week!
This large study examined nearly 450,000 people and found that those who took NSAIDs had a 24-58 percent increased risk of having a heart attack. It doesn’t matter how much you take, either.
According to this study, taking any amount of NSAIDs amounted to an increased risk of a heart attack, compared to people not taking the drugs.
This doozie is yet another in a long line of side effects associated with these drugs, including liver and kidney damage, and gastrointestinal bleeding—which is three times higher in people taking NSAIDs.
Despite these risks, Americans take more than 30 billion doses a year of this stuff—and you might be surprised to hear me say that I can hardly blame them.
There is an epidemic of spine and joint disorders in this country, resulting in record numbers of people suffering from chronic pain and disability. My practice is stacked with these patients every day.
I’ve had more than one patient tell me that the promise of pain relief—even for just a few hours—is worth the risk of these side effects.
Unfortunately, most people think this is their only option. But there are better alternatives that can provide relief without the risks.
Here are just a few I recommend to my patients:
- Krill oil is at the top of my list, with studies showing it is about as effective as NSAIDS for arthritis pain.
- Topical NSAIDs work well, and they have much less systemic effects than their oral counterparts.
- Regenerative injection therapies like prolotherapy are especially effective for joint pain.
- Soaking in an Epsom salt bath is another great way to relieve pain—and has the added benefit on increasing magnesium levels.
- Finally, a few lifestyle changes can make a big difference. I always recommend getting plenty of morning sun, staying hydrated with clean water, getting plenty of DHA in the diet, and avoiding artificial light at night.
To a brighter day,
Dr. Richard Gerhauser, M.D.
