Ibuprofen, the substance found in many medicines, is used to relieve pain and does not require a prescription, which means it is quite easy to obtain, reports The Sun.
Men may experience fertility problems. Pixabay Photo (Archive)
But recent studies indicate that the painkiller can have serious — and sometimes deadly — side effects when taken regularly.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin, naproxen, or ibuprofen, have been associated with stomach ulcers, fertility, hearing, and cardiovascular problems—and, most recently, an increased risk of blood clots.
For healthy people who occasionally turn to medication for pain relief, there's nothing wrong with taking an anti-inflammatory, says pharmacist Thorrun Govind, per the source.
“But taking these drugs for a long time can cause other serious problems and requires a discussion with your prescriber.”.
Gastric ulcer
symptom:
- A burning sensation or pain in the center of the belly (abdomen)
Administration of NSAID pain relievers is one of the most common causes of gastric ulcers, experts say.
This occurs because they reduce the body's ability to produce a protective mucus layer that protects the stomach lining from gastric acid.
Fertility problems
Symptoms of testosterone deficiency known as compensated hypogonadism include:
- Mood changes
- Decrease in muscle mass
Men who use ibuprofen for several months at a time may be at greater risk of fertility problems.
The research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, showed that healthy young men who took the common painkiller for up to six weeks produced less male sex hormones, leading to a condition usually found only in older men. elderly and smokers.
The 18- to 35-year-olds who took part in the Danish study developed a disorder called compensated hypogonadism two weeks after taking 600 mg of ibuprofen twice a day.
The condition occurs when the body does not produce enough testosterone.
“This is usually reversible when you stop taking ibuprofenThorrun explained.
Hearing problems
Signs of hearing loss:
- Difficulty hearing other people clearly and not understanding what they say, especially in noisy places.
- Ask people to repeat what they say
- You listen to music or watch a TV show or series with the volume turned up;
- Difficulty hearing on the phone
- Feeling tired or stressed from having to concentrate while listening
When you think of risk factors for hearing loss, over-the-counter pain relievers probably aren't one of them.
But a Harvard study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology showed that frequent ibuprofen use may play a role.
In the study, women who took painkillers at least twice a week were more likely to have hearing loss, and more frequent use increased the risk by up to 24 percent.
The findings are similar to those of a study of men with hearing loss, although that study also found that aspirin contributed to the risk of hearing loss.
Scientists believe that the drug can cut off the normal blood flow to the cochlea in the inner ear, so that its structure does not work as well as it should.
Heart problems
Symptoms of cardiac arrest:
- Breathing difficulties
- Loss of knowledge
Several studies have associated NSAIDs with an increased risk of serious heart disease.
In a 2016 study in the British Medical Journal, the authors pointed out that reports of side effects in the heart began to appear in the year 2000.
Some research published in 2017 showed that the drug could increase a person's risk of cardiac arrest by 31%.
The authors, from the University of Copenhagen, were so shocked by the results that they decided that the drugs should not be sold in supermarkets or gas stations and should only be available with a prescription.
Blood clot
Symptoms of a blood clot include:
- Throbbing or cramping pain, swelling, redness and warmth in a leg or arm.
- Sudden shortness of breath, sharp chest pain (may be worse when you breathe in) and coughing or expectorating blood
Women who take ibuprofen and hormonal birth control at the same time have a higher risk of blood clots.
The researchers, from the University of Copenhagen, found that when taken with hormonal contraception, the pills could increase the risk of venous thromboembolism, or blood clot, by five times.
This can lead to a heart attack or stroke. They emphasized that the overall risk remained low, but given the widespread use of both drugs, women should be aware of possible reactions.
