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Ibuprofen and Aspirin Can be a Deadly Combo |
 Asprin How many of you have at one stage taken the old reliable Aspirin and happened to take a few over the counter painkillers like Ibuprofen at the same time? Surely as these medications are over-the-counter pharmaceuticals they are safe right? Wrong!
The common painkiller ibuprofen could boost the likelihood of heart problems in high-risk patients with osteoarthritis.
Researchers examined the cardiovascular health of more than 18,000 osteoarthritis patients over the age of 50.
The patients were taking part in the Therapeutic Arthritis Research and Gastrointestinal Event Trial (TARGET), and were either taking a high dose of lumiracoxib, a COX-2 inhibitor, ibuprofen, or naproxen.
Patients whose risk of cardiovascular disease was deemed low during the study remained that regardless of their drug regimen. But 10 percent were considered to be at high risk of a heart attack or stroke; some of these patients were taking low-dose aspirin for this problem.
When these high-risk patients were taking both aspirin and ibuprofen, they were nine times as likely to have heart attacks and strokes over the course of a year as those on lumiracoxib. Previous studies have suggested that ibuprofen interferes with the effects of aspirin.
Among high-risk patients not taking aspirin, the rate of heart attacks or strokes was higher for those on COX -2 inhibitors and ibuprofen than it was for those on naproxen. (Ref: Science Daily April 5, 2007)
Basically The ability to purchase painkillers like ibuprofen over the counter doesn't mean they are any safer, more effective or better for your overall health than a prescription drug that can be just as deadly.
Its important to note that Over-the-counter drugs can have serious side effects and can even result in death if taken incorrectly.
Considering that ibuprofen and aspirin worsen your risks of breast cancer by 50 percent, I'm not surprised to learn this over-the-counter drug combo can harm the health of patients in other ways as well
A recommended alternative to aspirin is the herbal medicine Salix alba (willow bark) that can be safely administered by a qualified medical herbalist, without the side effects of aspirin (incidentally the drug aspirin (salicylic acid) was originally extracted from the bark of Salix alba). Ginger and Boswellia are other excellent herbs that are natural anti-inflammatory.
Natural medicine has powerful alternatives to painkillers like Ibuprofen such as Anemone pulsatilla (pulsatilla) and Piscidia erythrina (jamaican dogwood).
Tiger balm and cayenne cream are great topical treatments for painful muscles or joints.
With all pain and inflammation however it is Essential to address the underlying cause in order to eliminate these symptoms for good.
Have a great day
Gabriel
What is a herbalist and what does one do? |
