Common Anti-Inflammatory Can Cause Serious Bleeding Within 3 Days
People who take high doses of ibuprofen on a regular basis are an alarming three times more likely to experience bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) that those who do not take any painkillers.
The results of a retrospective analysis published in the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) journal show that significant GI bleeding can be observed as early as three days after starting an ibuprofen regimen in otherwise healthy people. This startling result supports the belief that high doses of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are likely to cause GIT bleeding.
Richard H. Hunt, MD, senior study author from the McMaster University Health Science Centre commented; âUnfortunately, people dealing with chronic pain, such as arthritis, often increase the recommended dose of their painkillers and they should be aware that the effects on the GI tract can be serious.â
âOf all the NSAIDs available over-the-counter, ibuprofen was thought to have the least harmful effects on the GI tract. However, our study shows that healthy, young people and older people are at great risk of internal bleeding..â
Researchers from the McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, conducted a post-hoc analysis of two separate randomized studies that included 68 healthy volunteers who were given either four weeks of an ibuprofen regimen (800mg, three times daily for 28 days) or a placebo.
Of the healthy subjects included in the study, those taking ibuprofen for 28 days experienced blood loss that was 3.64 fold greater than the placebo group. On average, those taking ibuprofen experienced blood loss as high as 299ml. Bleeding was found to begin as early as three days after the start of the treatment and generally lasted the entire duration of the study in most subjects.
According to the authors and previous studies, although the ibuprofen dose was higher than the recommended over-the-counter amount, blood loss, anaemia and other adverse effects can be observe at any dose of ibuprofen.
Emedâs Comment:
The article goes on to quote Denis McCarthy, MD, who said âWhile bleeding with a standard dose of ibuprofen is customary, the dose given in this study was twice that normally recommended over-the-counter by physiciansâ.
Itâs a very sad fact of life when significant side effects from over-the-counter medication like bleeding, anaemia, ulcerations, hermorrhage and potentially deadly GIT problems is considered âcustomaryâ. Ok, so we should expect dangerous reactions?
And the reference to âtwice that normally recommended over-the-counter by physiciansâ – how can any recommended dosages by made by physicians when ibuprofen is available at any supermarket, with no limits on how much you can buy?
In America, 30 million people take over-the-counter and prescription NSAIDs everyday. Each year, the side effects of NSAID use cause snearly 103,000 hospitalisations and 16,500 death by some estimates. Chances are that Australiaâs figures arenât much better.
We simply use TOO MANY painkillers and anti-inflammatories. These drugs are simply masking the pain by blocking pain signals in the brain. If you have an ache or pain, stop reaching for the drugs. If you reach for them out of habit – stop. Cut the habit (or addiction) early before itâs too late.
Our bodies experience pain for a reason – to let you know something is wrong. Rather that dosing up on massive amounts of Nurofen or Panadol, treat the underlying cause instead.
If you are experiencing pain or inflammation, treat the problem naturally instead. With advances in the production of natural medicine, there is now a range of natural anti-inflammatories that are tissue specific, meaning that these medicine treat the root of the problem without causing harm to the GIT.
For acute (recent) injury and inflammation, try High Potency Anti-Inflammatory Herbs. This fast-acting natural anti-inflammatory acts quickly at the site of the pain, leaving the GIT alone whilst exerting maximum benefit on the injury.
For chronic (long-term) pain and inflammation, Gut Friendly Anti-Inflammatory Pain Relief is a specially-formulated product that contains a powerful combination of natural anti-inflammatory herbal extracts that have shown to relieve pain without causing irritation in the stomach. Kaprex will assist in the relief of pain and inflammation associated with arthritis, osteoarthritis, rheumatism and pain from injury.
For a complete list of the best natural anti-inflammatories available, please click here.
For muscular aches, pain, cramps and discomfort following exercise, start using Magnesium. Magnesium is essential for the repair and maintenance of healthy muscle and nerve fibres. It also plays a significant role in energy production and pain relief. Unfortunately most of us are magnesium deficient due to poor dietary habits, processed food, excessive exercise and alcohol intake. For a list of the best and most effective magnesium supplements available in Australia, please click here.
What else can I do?
Use a multivitamin. When your body is not properly nourished with the correct amounts of vitamins and minerals, you are on the road to injury and illness. Visit Emedâs Best Multivitamins to pick up a great multi, and read 4 Reasons Why You Need a Great Multivitamin for more information.
Drink more water. Every part of our body needs and depends on water for proper functioning, including our joints, tissues, muscles and organs. Without proper hydration, our muscles and joints become weak, and in turn creates injury and pain. Find out how much water you should be drinking everyday by clicking here.
Use fish oil. Fish oil is not only great for skin, hair, nail and brain health, itâs also a natural anti-inflammatory. It helps to protect cells from cellular damage and reduces inflammation in joints, muscles, tissues and skin. Click here for the Best Fish Oils.
Cool it down or heat it up. For acute, recent injuries and muscle pain, joint or nerve pain relief, apply an ice pack for 20 minutes on/20 minutes off. This will greatly reduce inflammation. For chronic pain and inflammation (think back and neck pain), apply a wheat bag or heat patch to the affected area for soothing pain relief.
Keep flexible and keep exercising! As tempting as it may be to sit or lay down for extended periods, it is actually the worst thing we can do for injuries. Unless you have an injury that requires a lack of movement for the injury to heal, the best method to get natural pain relief is to keep your body and muscles moving by doing gentle stretching and regular body movements. For an easy-to-follow guide on how to stretch and exercise properly and to suit your injury, read Stretching and Exercise.
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