In a recent article we’ve discussed about some new findings related to pain; it appears that meditation can relieve the pain cause by migraines. Today, we’re taking a look at the results of a new study conducted by the researchers from Bassett Medical Center, New York, who discovered that NSAIDs can increase the risk of venous thromboembolism.
NSAIDs is short for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, the kind that most people use for strains, back pain, headache and menstruation cramps. Up until now, NSAIDs were considered relatively safe; we knew that NSAIDs can cause stomach issues, such as bleeding, ulcers and an upset stomach, high blood pressure, heart issues, rashes and kidney problems, but this recent study showed that that ibuprofen, naproxen, celecoxib and aspirin can harm us more than what was previously thought.
It appears that NSAID users have a 1.80 fold increased risk of venous thromboembolism compared with the participants in the study who did nu non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
The lead author of the study that showed that NSAIDs can increase the risk of venous thromboembolism, Patompont Ungprasert, had this to say about the results:
Our results show a statistically significant increased VTE risk among NSAIDs users. Why NSAIDs may increase the risk of VTE is unclear. It is possibly related to COX-2 inhibition leading to thromboxane-prostacyclin imbalance. Physicians should be aware of this association and NSAIDs should be prescribed with caution, especially in patients already at a higher risk of VTE.
But NSAIDs aren’t just dangerous. Recent studies have shown that they can halve the risk of developing breast cancer for overweight women and aspirin was found to reduce ovarian cancer by 20% in a study published this year.
Do you use NSAIDs? What are your thoughts on the fact that NSAIDs can increase the risk of venous thromboembolism? Are you going to take extra caution when using these types of drugs? Drop us a line in the comment section below and tell us all about it.