Is Taking An NSAID Safe for Daily Use?
24 Mar 21
At the first sign of pain, many people instinctively reach for ibuprofen or aspirin. While these tiny little pills may provide some pain relief, they could be doing more harm than good to your body especially if you use them daily.
At the first sign of pain, many people instinctively reach for ibuprofen or aspirin. While these tiny little pills may provide some pain relief, they could be doing more harm than good to your body especially if you use them daily.
Take the first step to improving your health by learning more about what can happen with long-term, daily use of NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen or aspirin.
What are NSAIDs?
NSAID stands for a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. These types of medications are commonly taken for pain relief. However, they do more than just relieve pain. They can also reduce inflammation, work as a blood thinner, and even act as a fever reducer.
People commonly use NSAIDs to treat pain caused by the following problems or medical conditions:
*Osteoarthritis
*Rheumatoid arthritis
*Tendonitis
*Joint pain
*Back pain
*Shoulder pain
Examples of Different Types of NSAIDs
There are two categories for NSAIDs: traditional NSAIDs and COX-2 inhibitors. Traditional NSAIDs are more commonly used because they are readily available as over-the-counter medications.
Specific examples of traditional NSAIDs include:
*ibuprofen
*indomethacin
*diclofenac
*meloxicam
*naproxen
*oxaprozin
*flurbiprofen
*ketoprofen
*aspirin
Traditional NSAIDs are available as both over-the-counter medications and prescription medications. Some types of traditional NSAIDs may only be available by prescription.
Celecoxib, the generic name for Celebrex, is currently the only type of COX-2 inhibitor NSAID that is available in the United States. It is available by prescription only.
How do NSAIDs Work?
Pain and swelling occur when the enzymes in your body, COX-1, and COX-2, produce a certain compound known as prostaglandin. NSAIDs work to reduce pain and swelling by creating a chemical reaction that stops, or at least dramatically reduces, the production of the COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes. When the production of these enzymes is stopped or slowed down, swelling decreases, and pain is reduced. This is what happens when you take NSAIDs.
Traditional NSAIDs work by inhibiting both the COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes. COX-2 inhibitor NSAIDs, as the name suggests, only work to reduce or block the production of the COX-2 enzyme.
Both traditional NSAIDs and COX-2 inhibitors help with pain and inflammation. However, there is a belief that because COX-2 inhibitors only target the COX-2 enzyme and not the COX-1 enzyme, it is less likely to cause gastrointestinal problems or stomach ulcers.
What are the Side Effects of Taking NSAIDs?
Just like any other type of medication, there are risks associated with taking NSAIDs. Whether you are taking an over-the-counter NSAID or a prescription NSAID, there are risks.
Some of the following are the most common side effects of taking NSAIDs:
*Stomach pain or irritation
*Increased heartburn or indigestion
*Diarrhea
*Constipation
*Increased nausea
*Vomiting
*Stomach ulcers
*Internal bleeding in the stomach
*Increased blood pressure
*Heart attacks
*Strokes
*Fluid retention due to decreases in kidney function
*Kidney failure
*Kidney damage
*Allergic reaction – difficulty swallowing, rashes, hives, shortness of breath, and swelling of lips, face, or tongue
*Easier to bruise
*Cuts take longer to heal because blood is thinner
*Balance problems
*Dizziness
*Difficulty concentrating
If you experience any of these problems or have a general feeling of being unwell after taking an NSAID, it is important to contact your healthcare provider.
Does Taking NSAIDs Daily Hurt or Harm the Body?
Most people rarely experience any side effects from taking NSAIDs. This gives people a false sense that there is no harm in taking NSAIDs, but there is. Taking NSAIDs on a daily basis puts your body and overall health at risk.
Daily use of NSAIDs increases your risk of experiencing serious side effects. A study by the American Gastroenterological Association that was published in a 2005 edition of ScienceDaily showed that patients who were chronic users of anti-inflammatory drugs had a higher risk of experiencing damage to their small intestine and stomach and increased bleeding that resulted in extensive damage to nearby organs.
People feel comfortable taking NSAIDs long-term because they usually do not cause problems that can be seen with the naked eye. Unfortunately, many of the problems you experience from long-term NSAIDs do not cause visible symptoms. Many of the problems, such as kidney damage or stomach ulcers, can be seen with the help of complex medical imaging, but cannot be seen outside a clinical setting.
By the time you start to notice problems from long-term use of NSAIDs, such as bloody stools, intense stomach pain, or water retention, the damage that is done to your body may be irreversible. If the damage is irreversible, you may experience serious health problems for the rest of your life.
What are Safer Alternatives to NSAIDs?
Taking NSAIDs comes with risks but that doesn’t mean you have to live in pain. There are safer alternatives to NSAIDs that can help you find relief from pain and discomfort.
Some safer alternatives to NSAIDs include:
*Lose weight
*Physical therapy
*Massage therapy
*Cold compresses
*Heat therapy
*Acupuncture
*Natural supplements that have anti-inflammatory properties
What are Natural Alternatives to NSAIDs?
Many of the herbs and spices found throughout nature have natural healing qualities that can help with pain and inflammation. The following are some examples of natural alternatives that help reduce inflammation so you can experience some relief from the pain.
Examples of natural alternatives to NSAIDs include:
Willow bark – helps reduce inflammation and relieve aches and pains because it contains a chemical known as salicin. Salicin works in a similar way that the active ingredient in aspirin works. However, salicin is natural and therefore decreases your chances of experience severe problems.
Turmeric – a spice that contains curcumin. Curcumin acts as an antioxidant. It actively works to prevent damage to the cells and tissue of the body by fighting against free radical molecules. The anti-inflammatory qualities of turmeric make it a great natural pain reliever.
Cloves – cloves contain eugenol which works as a natural pain reliever. Cloves can be used to treat headaches, toothaches, and pain from arthritis.
What is the Best Natural Alternative to NSAIDs?
Due to its many anti-inflammatory and antioxidant qualities, turmeric is considered to be the best natural alternative to NSAID. Numerous studies have shown that it can dramatically reduce pain and inflammation without causing the adverse side effects that come with the temporary or long-term use of NSAIDs.
Turmeric comes in a variety of different forms. It comes in a spice form, powder, supplemental tablet, and topical cream. The best natural way to relieve inflammation is by choosing a safe and effective turmeric supplement that is designed for maximum potency and absorption.
Best Anti-Inflammatory Supplement
Don't settle for anything but the best when it comes to the anti-inflammatory supplement you use to help you find pain relief. If you are looking for a natural alternative to help with anti-inflammation, look no further than Nuvothera’s Super-Micronized Turmeric Curcumin Supplement.
Nuvothera’s Super-Micronized Turmeric Curcumin Supplement has everything you could want or need in a natural supplement that helps reduce inflammation. This supplement has the following qualities. It uses only all-natural ingredients. It is water-soluble which helps with maximum absorption. It doesn’t use black pepper or other chemical additives which cause adverse side effects and it uses the whole root turmeric, so you get the maximum potency.
What makes Nuvothera’s Super-Micronized Turmeric Curcumin Supplement different from other supplements is that it is created using a super-micronized formula. The super-micronized formula helps to deliver maximum potency and absorption.
What does the use of this specialized and advanced technology mean for you? It means that when you take Nuvothera turmeric supplement you are taking a supplement that is 100 times more potent than other supplement brands. Taking the most potent turmeric supplements increases your chance of experiencing pain relief by reducing inflammation.
NSAIDs may help relieve pain and inflammation, but they are not designed for daily use. Consider taking Nuvothera’s Super-Micronized Turmeric Curcumin Supplement if you are looking for a safer alternative for pain relief that doesn't come with all the risks of taking NSAIDs daily. Click here to place an order for Nuvothera’s turmeric supplement.
