The benign-looking meds that are more dangerous than ever

To paraphrase Jaws, “I think we’re going to need a bigger label.”

Just last month I told you how the FDA finally changed the warning labels on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

After years of denials, our government finally admitted that common NSAID pain relievers like ibuprofen send your heart attack and stroke risk through the roof.

Even if you only take these meds for a short time — and even if you have no history of heart disease.

But it looks like the damage NSAIDs do to your body doesn’t stop with your heart. In fact, a major new study has just revealed that these meds can trigger dangerous, out-of-control blood pressure — and maybe put you on the waiting list for a kidney transplant.

Three strikes and you’re outNow you may have heard that if you have high blood pressure and take NSAIDs, you could suffer serious damage to your kidneys.

And the risk is much more serious than we’ve ever been told.

A new study involving 30,000 people found that hypertension patients who regularly used NSAIDs for as little as three months were a third more likely to have chronic kidney disease.

And that could easily put you on the waiting list for dialysis or even a kidney transplant.

But even if you don’t have high blood pressure and take NSAIDs, you’re still not out of the woods.

That’s because, as Dr. Liffert Vogt from the University of Amsterdam points out, NSAIDs force our kidneys to retain salt and water. And that won’t just damage your kidneys — over time, it can actually give you hypertension.

The fact that NSAIDs can drive up your blood pressure may explain why they give so many people strokes. When your blood pressure gets too high, it can increase your stroke risk up to 600 percent.

The new study focused on prescription NSAIDs such as the arthritis medication Celebrex. But don’t forget that aspirin and ibuprofen are also NSAIDs. Millions of Americans with chronic pain are popping a daily Advil or Aleve right along with their morning coffee.

And just imagine all the patients with high blood pressure who have been prescribed a daily aspirin by docs who bought into the myth that it reduces heart attack risk.

We’re talking about a staggering potential for kidney damage. And you and your doctor may never realize it was caused by that trusty OTC or prescription pain med.

Plus, as I’ve told you before, these NSAIDs can trigger potentially fatal gastrointestinal bleeding. More than 100,000 Americans are sent to the hospital every year from GI bleeding linked to NSAIDs — and many never make it out.

So let’s look at the count: Stomach bleeding, cardiovascular risk, and now kidney damage. That’s three strikes — and should make for an out.

Now, there are dozens of NSAID products on the market and they come in all shapes, sizes, and dosages. And you might be getting a hefty dose in a prescription medication and not even know it.

Common OTC ones include anything with aspirin (Anacin and Bufferin), ibuprofen (Advil and Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve).

And if you’re taking a prescription drug, be sure to ask your pharmacist if it contains an NSAID.

But as I’ve said many times, there are other ways of handling pain — natural treatments that have been used safely for centuries. Here are three to get you started:

Arnica: This herbal remedy has been used to relieve pain for 500 years, and has been studied extensively for arthritis. You can rub it on sore muscles or aching joints. It also comes as a homeopathic remedy to take by mouth.
Capsaicin: This is a key component in chili peppers, and you can find it in topical pain-relieving rubs. It actually works by helping to soften the pain signals your body sends.
Acupuncture: You don’t need to travel to the Far East to get this time-tested pain remedy. In fact, acupuncture is becoming so popular that many insurance policies — including government insurance plans — are starting to cover it.

Sources:

“NSAIDS may increase kidney risks with high blood pressure” Lisa Rapaport, July 23, 2015, Reuters, news.yahoo.com