When you’re dealing with pain, it’s all too easy to reach for over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen, aspirin, Tylenol, or Aleve. While these nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) might provide temporary relief, they come with potentially life-threatening side effects. It’s widely known that both over-the-counter and prescription NSAIDs increase your risk of stroke and heart attack, but recent research has uncovered the root of the problem: these drugs attack your heart cells’ mitochondria, making it harder for them to produce energy.
Mitochondria are the powerhouse of your body, generating energy to fuel crucial physiological activities, such as contracting and relaxing your muscles. When NSAIDs attack the mitochondria, they create reactive oxygen species (which are known to cause heart disease) and block your cells from naturally disposing of damaged or unnecessary proteins. Over time, this leads to toxic build-up, causing your cardiac cells to die.
Even the ‘safest’ NSAIDs, like naproxen (found in Aleve and Midol), can have severe consequences when taken long-term. The drug still attacks heart cell mitochondria, increases the production of reactive oxygen species in heart cells, and raises the risk of stroke. Prescription NSAIDs, however, are even more dangerous. Meclofenamate sodium, often used to treat joint pain and arthritis, not only increases reactive oxygen species and impairs mitochondrial function but also contributes to the toxicity that causes cardiac cells to die. With many people taking these drugs too often, it further highlights the potential risks to health.
Alternative pain relief
It’s natural to want relief from pain, but there are safer, more effective options for alleviating discomfort. Here are some natural remedies for common pain:
Headache: Try essential oils like peppermint or lavender oil, which have been known to provide relief from headaches. Peppermint oil is believed to help open and close blood vessels, promoting blood flow to the head and reducing headaches.
Chronic pain: Acupuncture is a great option for chronic pain relief, especially for lower back pain.
Natural pain relievers: Feverfew, capsaicin, devil’s claw, and willow bark (the natural form of aspirin) are all natural pain relief options.
If you do occasionally need to take NSAIDs, try to minimize the drugs’ impact on your heart by taking an antioxidant like vitamin C before using pain relievers. Researchers believe that this may help prevent NSAIDs from killing your cardiac cells.
Seeking alternative, safer pain relief options can lead to better long-term health and alleviate your pain in a danger-free way.
