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Pain relief may seem like a pill away
to many people when they are hurting. Most people reach
for an over-the-counter pain reliever (OTC) to numb
the pain.
For patients who want quick results, a prescription
may be fastest, for the doctor AND for the patient. |
But with doctors’ patient loads and
managed care contracts, there can be precious-little time
at a doctor’s visit to convey all of the aspects
of the patient’s history that could be addressed
to help relieve pain. |
While there are needs for pain relievers to relieve suffering at times,
the reliance on drugs to relieve routine pain correlates with serious,
deadly diseases later in life.
Take for instance the Vioxx fiasco. Vioxx was a blockbuster prescription
pain reliever for Merck. The British Medical Journal (BMJ) (12/4/2004)
reported that Merck scientists were seriously discussing a potential
heart attack risk with using Vioxx as early as November 1996.
According to that BMJ article, a culture of intimidation and fear permeates
the FDA making it difficult for drug safety officers to protect the
public. Vioxx ultimately was pulled off the shelves after an estimated
88,000 to 139,000 Americans had heart attacks or strokes as a result
of taking Vioxx.
One of the FDA’s own agency experts, Dr. David Graham, testified
in Senate hearings that the approval of Vioxx by the US Food and Drug
Administration led to the single greatest drug catastrophe in the history
of the world.
Relying on pain relievers can be especially
alarming because numerous scientific journals link acetaminophen,
aspirin or ibuprofen to an increased risk of cancer, stomach
bleeding, heart disease and high blood pressure. That is, the
more doses and the more often the pain relievers are consumed,
the more likely those chronic, degenerative and potentially
deadly diseases occur.
Take for instance:
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Death from Ulcers
36,500 deaths
occur each year in the US due to stomach bleeding
from taking over-the-counter or prescription pain
relievers (New England Journal of Medicine June
17, 1999 Wolfe, Lichtenstein & Singh)
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First Heart Attack
Use of any anti-inflammatories to relieve pain leads to a 40% increased risk
of having a first heart attack (European Heart Journal 5/26/2006)
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Breast Cancer Risk
Using ibuprofen daily for 5 years or more led to 50% increased risk of breast
cancer over those who didn’t use it (Journal of the National Cancer
Institute Vol. 97 No. 11 805-12)
Using aspirin daily for 5 years or more led to 80% increased risk of breast
cancer over those who didn’t use it (Journal of the National Cancer
Institute Vol. 97 No. 11 805-12)
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Heart-Related Deaths
Taking pain relievers for 6 months or more DOUBLES the risk of heart attack and
stroke or other heart-related deaths. Specifically, ibuprofen saw a 300% increased
risk over non-users. (American Association for Cancer Research in Anaheim/Associated
Press 4/19/2005)
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High Blood Pressure Risk
Older women taking 500 mg/day of acetaminophen saw a 93% increased risk of high
blood pressure over women who didn’t take acetaminophen.
Older women taking 500 mg/day of ibuprofen saw a 78% increased risk of high
blood pressure over women who didn’t take ibuprofen.
In younger women
who took the same acetaminophen dose as above, they saw a 99% increased risk
of high blood pressure over women who didn’t.
(Hypertension Sept. 2005 46:500) |
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Sadly, using pain relievers as an ongoing strategy for pain relief
increases your risk for cancer, heart disease and high blood pressure.
At Atlas Personal Wellness explore our drug-free ways to decrease inflammation through ABCTM spinal realignment, medical massage, bad posture correction, omega 3 supplements, better ergonomics, natural cholesterol treatment, cold laser therapy and Therastim. |
