NSAIDs put you at Risk for Heart Flutters
Most of us think nothing of taking an Advil or Aleve for those aches or pains that show up regularly. These are part of a group of drugs called Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, or NSAIDS for short. They are used to relieve pain and reduce signs of inflammation, fever, swelling and redness.
People may take NSAIDs for
1. Temporary conditions such as:
– sprains
– strains
– back/neck pain
– headaches
2. Chronic long-term health problems such as:
– arthritis,
– rheumatoid arthritis
– osteoarthritis
– lupus
Taking drugs like ibuprofen and aspirin could increase your risk of a heart condition known as atrial fibrillation, according to research from the British Medical Journal. Atrial fibrillation or flutter is a condition in which the heart beats irregularly or quickly. People with atrial fibrillation have an increased risk of stroke, heart failure, and mortality.
To assess the safety of several drugs, researchers surveyed 32,602 patients with atrial fibrillation or flutter and 325,918 healthy patients. Participants who frequently took NSAIDs had an increased risk of atrial fibrillation. New users of the drug were 40-70% more likely to have atrial fibrillation than non-users. Patients with chronic kidney disease or rheumatoid arthritis were predominantly susceptible to the risk, but older patients had the maximum risk of all. Therefore, people who suffer from chronic pain may benefit from trying a safe, non-drug system of controlling pain.
Natural remedies to manage pain (and avoid atrial fibrillation by eliminating use of NSAIDS):
1. Capsaicin – temporarily desensitizes pain-prone skin nerve receptors
2. Turmeric – reduces inflammation
3. Arnica Montana – reduces inflammation
4. Red Seaweed – reduces joint inflammation
5. S adenosylmethionine (SAM-e) – reduces inflammation
6. Omega-3 Fatty Acids – reduce inflammation
7. Chiropractic Adjustments – addressing the root of chronic pain which will reduce irritation of nerves
You can see a pattern here that reducing inflammation will result in a decrease in symptoms.
Reference
Schmidt M, Christiansen C, Mehnert F, Rothman K, and Sørensen HT. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use and risk of atrial fibrillation or flutter: population based case-control study. BMJ 2011; 343: doi: 10.1136/bmj.d3450.
http://www.prevention.com/mind-body/natural-remedies/pain-remedies-11-natural-cures-pain
