Скачать или смотреть Pumping up Heart Warnings on Pain Relievers

They are likely a fixture in everyone’s medicine cabinet: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; NSAIDs for short. These popular pain pills keep millions of Americans moving.

“These are the medications one will take when you are having body aches, fever, headaches, or sometimes, severe arthritic problems,” says Dr. Murali Muppala, a cardiologist with Lee Memorial Health System.

“My shoulders will ache; it’s from working out, from lifting weights,” says Peter Iberseder.

Peter Iberseder reaches for ibuprofen maybe once or twice a week.

“It just dulls the pain enough so I can sleep a little bit better,” says Iberseder.

Now the FDA is weighing in, recommending people proceed with caution when taking drugs containing ibuprofen and naproxen - common brands like Aleve, Advil and Motrin.

“When you take these medications you can have increased risk of stroke or heart attack even in the first few days after you take these medications,” says Dr. Muppala.

For years, package labels indicated these drugs ‘might’ increase risk. Now, with more research, it's definitive. Moving forward a warning will be added to NSAIDs stating they ‘cause’ higher risk of heart attack and stroke. These pumped up precautions may put some people in a painful position.

“You need to take those pills to make you feel better, but try to take the smallest effective dose that can make you feel better, for the shortest duration of time,” says Dr. Muppala.

People with existing heart conditions are most at risk, but anyone experiencing chest pains, shortness of breath, sudden weakness or slurred speech should seek emergency help.

“Once in a while taking this pill may not increase your risk. People who take it on everyday basis, they are definitely at an increased risk,” says Dr. Muppala.

There new recommendations are worth taking to heart.

“If I were to use them everyday, I would rethink how much I would use them,” says Iberseder.

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Lee Memorial Health System in Fort Myers, FL is the largest network of medical care facilities in Southwest Florida and is highly respected for its expertise, innovation and quality of care. For nearly a century, we’ve been providing our community with everything from primary care treatment to highly specialized care services and robotic assisted surgeries.

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