Risky remedies?
A range of evidence has emerged over the years linking pain-relieving drugs to a greater risk of cardiac arrest. As a result, some cardiologists have called for tougher controls on NSAIDS. Last year, Professor Gunnar Gislason, from Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark, called for them to be only available in pharmacies, after his study found that ibuprofen can increase the risk of cardiac arrest by 31%.
So, are painkillers in peril? Not quite, says private and NHS GP Dr Jeff Foster. ‘Certain anti-inflammatories are associated with an increase of heart disease,’ he says. ‘But the majority of problem-causing painkillers are now off the market. Plus, the study linking heart attack, strokes and ibuprofen involves high doses taken over a long period of time.’ However, individuals with hypertension need to be careful.
‘One of the biggest problems with high blood pressure is kidney disease,’ explains Dr Foster.
Anti-inflammatories not only affect your blood pressure directly, but also indirectly, by impacting your kidney function. They constrict your arteries, including those to your kidneys, which ramps up blood pressure and stroke risk simultaneously. ‘This is why, when patients are taking anti-inflammatories, especially over a long period of time, it’s vital to check their kidneys and blood pressure together,’ adds Dr Foster.