For decades, we’ve been bombarded with TV commercials and ads suggesting that when we’re in pain, we should reach for a bottle of aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen for relief. These ads promise safety, but clinical studies continue to reveal a grim reality. One recent study published in the British Medical Journal warns of the highly elevated risk of heart attack from taking everyday, over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
In this study, researchers reviewed data from Canadian and European computerized drug prescription or medical databases to compare the risk of acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) in NSAID users with non-users. The study included nearly 450,000 individuals and found that:
- Taking any dose of NSAIDs for one week, one month, or more than a month was associated with an increased risk of heart attack.
- With use for 1-7 days, the probability of increased heart attack risk was 92% for celecoxib, 97% for ibuprofen, and 99% for diclofenac, naproxen, and rofecoxib.
- Greater risk of heart attack was documented for higher doses of NSAIDs.
Making Safer Pain-Relief Choices
Pain relief is a necessary component for improved wellness and quality of life. It’s crucial to know that there are plenty of natural pain-relief methods readily available to you. When experiencing pain, especially chronic pain, consider the following natural options before taking NSAIDs:
- Consider all treatment options: Explore various pain-relief methods like meditation, massage, tai chi, yoga, acupuncture, chiropractic treatments, supplements, and diets.
- Get more sleep: Sufficient, deep sleep allows your body to rest and repair, helping decrease chronic pain. You can find tips for better sleep here.
- Practice yoga or tai chi: These slow-moving mind/body practices help in de-stressing the mind, invigorating blood flow, and improving range of motion while relaxing tight muscles. Learn more about the healing powers of yoga and tai chi here and here.
- Take natural pain-relieving supplements: Supplements like SAMe have shown potential in providing pain-relieving effects comparable to Celebrex, but without the side effects. Learn more about SAMe and other natural supplements for pain and inflammation here.
- Use topical pain-relieving gels and creams: Topical products can make a world of difference for swelling, stiffness, and general pain at the surface. Read this review to learn about many effective options.
- Use proven methods for back pain: Researchers have found that the best solutions for chronic back pain include practices like yoga and tai chi, and treatments like acupuncture. Read more about these natural back pain management techniques here.
- Practice qigong for fibromyalgia relief: If you have fibromyalgia, finding a local qigong group or teacher may be the best way to find lasting, gentle pain relief. Learn more about this here.
- Take a holistic approach to arthritis and migraines: For chronic pain syndromes like arthritis and migraines, a holistic approach may be most helpful. Books like “Arthritis Reversed” and “Headaches Relieved” provide comprehensive plans to managing these conditions through natural pain relief strategies.
Heed these findings and reduce your chances of an unnecessary and potentially deadly heart attack by refraining from taking NSAIDs. At the very least, make natural alternatives your first line for pain relief.
