Pain Killers Causes Heart Failure: What you need to know about Ibuprofen and other painkillers

Given the day-to-day rigorous activities of a fast paced environment, for some, painkillers have become their best friend. Ibuprofen and Naproxen are two of the widely and commonly used painkillers as they are over-the-counter drugs. They reduce the hormones that cause pain and inflammation. The question is, do we know the risk for taking them?

Ibuprofen is one among the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Others include Naproxen, Cataflam or Voltaren and Arcoxia. According to Drugs.com, Ibuprofen can increase the risk of a heart failure and stroke when used for a long period for time and when taken more than the recommended dose. Dosage of Ibuprofen should only be 800 milligrams per doze and at maximum of 4 dosages in a day. An overdose of the said medicine can cause damage to the stomach or the intestines and may cause bleeding which is fatal.

In an interview with Andrea Arfe, a PhD student at the University of Milano-Bocca in Italy, by Medline Plus, Arfe said "our findings -- which focused only on prescription NSAIDs -- might apply to over-the-counter NSAIDs as well. Although over-the-counter NSAIDs are typically used at lower doses and for shorter durations, they are sometimes available at the same doses as prescription NSAIDs and they may be inappropriately overused."

When suffering from a heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or if you smoke, it is best to see the doctor first before taking Ibuprofen or any other painkillers. The same goes if you have asthma, liver or kidney disease and a history of stomach ulcers or bleeding.

It is also best to avoid painkillers when at the last trimester of pregnancy because it may cause damage to the unborn child. However, it is not known if ibuprofen passes to breast milk.

A child that is younger than two years old should also not be given ibuprofen or any other painkiller without a doctor's advice.

Bottom line is, before taking any medication a doctor's advice is always best. Self medicating may only do more harm than good.