In today’s fast-paced life, pain has become a common thing. Be it headache, back pain, joint pain, period pain or mild fever, most of us go straight to the medical store and take a painkiller without thinking much. People start taking medicines like ibuprofen, diclofenac, naproxen or Tylenol again and again. But do you know that the medicine which gives you instant relief can gradually harm your body from inside. A recent report and warning from doctors have made it clear that taking painkillers without doctor’s advice can become a dangerous habit. So let us know how dangerous taking painkillers again and again is for health.
How much painkillers are being taken?
According to a recent study, more than 1 billion NSAIDs (pain-relieving medicines) are prescribed every year around the world. About 3 crore people consume these medicines daily. These figures show that pain pills are no longer a necessity but are becoming a habit. NSAIDs stand for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These are medicines which reduce pain, reduce swelling and reduce fever. They are generally used in problems like headache, cold, flu or corona, sprain, strain, period pain and arthritis.
How dangerous is taking painkillers again and again for health?
1. Painkillers damage the intestines – When people take painkillers like ibuprofen, 75 percent of them get swelling in their intestines. 1 out of every 4 people may get stomach ulcer. Painkillers reduce blood flow in the small veins that supply blood to the intestines. When the intestines do not get enough blood, the lining of the intestines becomes weak, bacteria and toxic elements start entering the body, swelling and irritation start, its symptoms can be problems like stomach ache, burning sensation, vomiting, black colored stool, IBS.
2. Kidney and liver are also affected – Painkillers also affect the nerves of the kidneys. Gradually the filtering capacity of the kidneys reduces. Many times it becomes known only when the damage has increased a lot. Therefore, doctors advise that blood tests and urine tests should be done from time to time.
3. Danger to liver also – People consider painkillers like Tylenol to be safe, but this drug is the cause of more than 50 percent of liver failure cases in America. Tylenol is found in many medicines, especially for cold and cough. Unintentional overdose can occur, so it is very important to read the label before taking the medicine.
4. Headache medicine can increase headache – Experts say that if you take painkillers for more than 10-15 days in a month, the body becomes dependent on them. Headache may start if medicine is not taken. This is called Medication Overuse Headache.
