1. NSAIDs Greatly Increase Risk After the First Heart Attack
Though the heart risk associated with NSAIDs is well known, a new study indicates that using
them after a previous heart attack greatly increases the risk of a second heart attack or fatal
heart disease. This is in addition to the other negative side effects cause by this class of drugs.
NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are a group of
drugs commonly used as painkillers and anti-inflammatory medications. It is a broad group of
drugs, and there are several families of NSAIDs based on their chemical structure. They are
also often used as a treatment for fever. These are often prescribed to people suffering from
rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, conditions that often affect the elderly, who are also at a
higher risk of heart disease.
A common side effect of NSAIDs is elevated blood pressure (hypertension), and their link to
heart disease is well documented. In a recent study by the Copenhagen University Hostpital
Gentofte, that link has been further strengthened among people having previously suffered
heart attacks.
Of the 100,000 patients studied, 54 percent of them filled a prescription for an NSAID. Those
patients were 30 percent more likely to have another heart attack within a year of their first
attack.
Even more alarming was the fact that patients prescribed NSAIDs after their first heart attack
were 59 percent more likely to die within a year of the first heart attack when compared with
patients not prescribed an anti-inflammatory. A full 63 percent died within five years. These
numbers include deaths by any cause and aren’t limited to deaths by heart disease.
These dangerous adverse effects of NSAIDs are dose dependent, and they are far more likely
to occur during the use of prescription NSAIDs. Occasional use of over-the-counter NSAIDs like
ibuprofen or naproxen aren’t linked to significantly higher risk of heart disease except when
they are abused and taken in excessive dosages or used too often. Doctors recommend taking
these medications sparingly, using only enough to relieve the symptoms of pain or inflammation.
Ironically, however, there is one NSAID that has been shown to drastically reduce the chances
of heart disease: aspirin. Low-dose aspirin has been shown to reduce the risk of a heart disease
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2. in people with a pre-existing condition or a high risk of developing heart disease. But it is an
NSAID. For this reason, it’s important to consult your doctor or pharmacist if you’re already
taking a prescription NSAID such as indomethacin, diclofenac, or celecoxib. The combination
may not be healthy.
Graphic courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.Net
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