Ibuprofen is used to treat various pains and ailments.
Heart attack characterized by a blockage in the supply of blood to the heart, usually caused by a blood clot. According to scientists, the popular anti-inflammatory drug Ibuprofen is associated with an increased risk of heart attack.
Easily available in most pharmacies, Ibuprofen is used to treat various pains and ailments. It can be taken for back pain and toothache. In addition, it is used to reduce temperature.
Experts have explained how this little pill can cause such a serious health problem.
Ibuprofen belongs to the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which also includes naproxen, sulindac, diclofenac and others.
By Medline Plus — a site that publishes extensive information from the US National Institutes of Health, these non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are associated with a higher risk of heart attack or stroke.
This statement is also supported by a study published in the British Medical Journal, which included more than 440 thousand people, and found that ibuprofen can increase the risk of a heart attack by as much as 97%.
Dr. William Grossman, Director of the Center Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases of the University of California, San Francisco, explained the mechanisms underlying this risk.
«Ibuprofen, Advil and Motrin, can cause a marked worsening of existing hypertension (high blood pressure) or development of new high blood pressure. It can also cause kidney damage (nephrotoxicity), worsening heart failure, and even a heart attack or stroke»,— stated Grossman.
Medline Plus advises that the risk of heart attack may be especially relevant for those who take ibuprofen for a long time.
Experts advise against taking pain medication if you have recently had heart attack, unless your doctor tells you to.