For some, it’s become almost second nature to reach for ibuprofen or other painkillers to relieve a headache and other types of body pain.
But a new study has found that using painkillers on a regular basis for short-term relief could actually have long-term consequences on your heart.
In fact, researchers at the University of Milano-Bicocca in Italy found that those who take ibuprofen and other types of popular painkillers are 20 per cent more likely to experience heart failure.
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Researchers looked at the data of more than 10 million people in Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and U.K. and focused on 27 NSAIDs – also known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which helps alleviate pain and reduce inflammation.
The way these medications work is by blocking the activity of the enzymes known as COX-1 and COX-2, which produce prostaglandins, a chemical known to cause inflammation.
Ibuprofen alone increased the risk of heart failure by 18 per cent. Diclofenac, a medication used for arthritis, raised the risk by 19 per cent. The less commonly used Ketorolac increased the risk by 83 per cent.
Other medications that increase heart risk include indomethacin, naproxen, nimesulide and piroxicam, as well as two COX-2 inhibitors called etoricoxib and rofecoxib.
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But for those who took these medications daily for a year or more, their risk almost doubled compared to if they weren’t taking them at all.
Those most likely to experience such heart failure due to the medication use were men in their mid 70s. Researchers speculate this may be because elderly patients are more likely to be prescribed such medications for the long-term to battle ailments like arthritis.
Researchers hope their findings will be shared among physicians, used in their regular clinical practices and alter the way they prescribe these medications.
Request for comment from the researchers were not responded to by the time of publication.
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