Aspirin Risks: Why You Should Take Care When Taking Common Painkillers

There was a time when the average person probably never thought of taking an aspirin with another painkiller. There was simply no point. But in recent years, those who use 'aspirin therapy' to help prevent heart attacks may also be taking regular doses of acetaminophen or ibuprofen to treat headaches, arthritis pain, fever, sore muscles, etc.

However, you should be aware that painkillers such as ibuprofen can block the heart-protective effects of aspirin. So one drug can in effect cancel out the benefits of another.

More importantly, however, when these over-the-counter painkillers are mixed, chronic, long-term health problems can also result.

Risk x 2
Here are the basic findings from a new study: A team from Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital examined data gathered from more than 22,000 men over a period of five years as part of the Physicians' Health Study. Subjects who took 325 mg of aspirin every other day experienced a 44 percent reduction in risk of a first heart attack, compared with subjects who didn't take aspirin regularly. Those who regularly took aspirin as well as another non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), such as ibuprofen, for 60 or more days each year had a significantly higher risk of heart attack than those who took only aspirin. And this was especially so for those with the highest intake of an additional NSAID.

For those using Tylenol for pain relief, the lead author of the study, Dr. Tobias Kurth, told Reuters News Service that because acetaminophen is not an NSAID, it 'would not be expected to interfere with aspirin's qualities.' And while that statement would appear to be accurate, it certainly doesn't hint at the health problems that can be caused by using NSAIDs with acetaminophen.

As we've discussed in other e-Alerts, all NSAIDs, including aspirin and ibuprofen, have been shown to contribute to liver and kidney impairment, gastrointestinal conditions such as bleeding and ulcers, and an increased risk of hypertension in women. In addition, a high intake of acetaminophen can cause serious damage to the liver and other organs, and when acetaminophen and aspirin intake are combined, that risk not only rises, it doubles!

Is a daily aspirin necessary?
Ironically, there are many people who are taking a daily aspirin who may already be getting plenty of heart attack protection from the foods they eat.

Last week, Researchers from the University of Athens in Greece announced the results of a 15-month study that followed the dietary habits and cardiovascular health of almost 2,000 subjects. Of those, 848 were coronary patients, and the rest were healthy subjects. Results showed that those whose diets included the highest fruit intake had more than 70 percent reduced risk of heart attack and other cardiac problems compared with those who ate the least amount of fruit. And vegetable intake produced a similar effect. Subjects that consumed vegetables three or more times each week had approximately 70 percent lower risk than those who ate no vegetables
at all.

And to make the maths as easy as possible, Dr. Demosthenes Panagiotakos, the lead author of the study, set out this rule of thumb based on the data from his study: For every additional piece of fruit consumed each day, subjects showed a 10 percent reduction in coronary risk.

So an apple, a banana, a pear, a peach and half a grapefruit each day will not only deliver plenty of essential vitamins and minerals, but they just might make the daily use of aspirin obsolete.

The way of the pineapple
As for those who are taking ibuprofen or other NSAIDs to relieve arthritis pain, there's also a safe alternative called bromelain that we've told you about in past e-Alerts. Bromelain is a digestive enzyme found in pineapple that acts as a natural anti-inflammatory. In addition to relieving the swelling, pain, and stiffness associated with arthritis, bromelain has also been shown to help reduce platelet aggregation, which can lead to stroke and heart attack. Bromelain supplements are available in most health food stores.

Last week's Harvard study only lifted the lid on some of the problems associated with aspirin and other painkillers. And while these over-the-counter drugs are useful in moderation, everyday usage can evolve into much larger health problems down the road. Fortunately there are natural alternatives with no side effects. And some of them may even be on your dinner plate this evening.