I’ve repeatedly told you about the dangers of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). In fact, you were the first to read that you can relieve your joint pain today only to destroy your joint cartilage tomorrow by using NSAIDs. Now it appears these over-the-counter pain pills can also cause angina and heart destruction.
New research has just been reported on 651,000 adults with diagnosed arthritis in the California Medicaid program. They were followed for an average of four years (that is 2.4 million patient years). This is the largest study ever on this issue.
The researchers found that at the very least, all NSAID drugs raise your risk of a heart attack (myocardial infarction) by at least 12% – and up to 71% for the use of indomethacin, the strongest of the NSAIDs. The higher the dose of the particular NSAID, the higher your risk. For example, if you average over 150 mg daily of diclofenac (Voltaren), your risk increases a whopping 37%.
At the same time, another just-published medical study (BMJ 2005, 330) followed 9,218 patients with a first heart attack compared to 86,000 matched controls. Rocecoxib increased risk 32% and ibuprofen (Motrin and Advil) increased risk by 24%.
Why does this happen? NSAID drugs interfere with your normal inflammatory processes. Inflammation occurs for a reason. So does pain. Modern medicine tries to inhibit the pain instead of repair the problem that is causing the pain. When you stop the pain, it signals that body to stop the healing process.
NSAIDs reduce inflammation by interfering with prostaglandin metabolism. Yes, some prostaglandins create inflammation and pain, but others are an absolute requirement for blood vessel lubrication. God designed your body to strike the natural balance of prostaglandins. A chemical indiscriminately weighs down one side of your metabolic teeter-totter. This is a problem with virtually every class of petrochemical pharmaceutical. (Note: fatty acids are in charge of prostaglandins.)
Dr. Thomas Schnitzer, professor of medicine and assistant dean for a Chicago medical school sees the writing on the wall. There will be a marked reduction in the long-term use of NSAIDs. Dr. Schnitzer might be right, but I suspect most people hate pain enough to ignore the warnings. That is, unless they have safer alternatives.
But what are the alternatives if you have pain? I have long maintained that the safest class of pain drugs is narcotics. Other than the potential for addiction (which is uncommon when used judiciously for pain), and constipation, these very cheap (when generic) drugs have a high safety profile. Most of them are derived from God-made morphine, which is a very safe drug.
There have been doctors enlightened enough for years to recognize the dangers of NSAIDs. However, if they minister your pain with narcotics, they risk their licenses and freedom. (Some have even been sent to jail.) Seems the government would prefer you have a heart attack or ulcer from an NSAID than risk a narcotic dependency.
It just amazes me the bazillions of dollars government wastes in the so-called War on Drugs, when its licensed drugs are killing or maiming millions. I wonder why the government does not limit these chemicals like it does narcotics?
And other drugs are not much of an answer either. We already know acetaminophen products, such as Tylenol, are not better alternatives. This chemical can destroy your liver and kidneys.
Since drugs are not a real answer in todays world, we have to look to God-made anti-inflammatories, especially herbal products like ginger, curcumin, boswelia, and proteolytic enzymes. These can provide your body what it needs to modulate your inflammation with absolutely no risk.
I also suggest you try prolotherapy. You have read in these pages about how it can help most joint pains. But its also great for a lot of other pain problems, including migraines, fibromyalgia, back pain, and even TMJ. You can find out more about prolotherapy on my website.
And you can find a doctor in your area at the website .
And the very best treatment for pain is FSM. This amazing technology can literally melt pain away in minutes. You can find out more about it on my website.
The FDA, allegedly charged with your safety, does not require Big Pharma to look at the all-cause morbidity (injuries) and mortality from any of its wares, including vaccines. It just looks at reductions in the target symptoms.
But once again, long-term studies have proven me correct with another class of drugs — NSAIDs. I re-assert that if you look long enough at the effects of most (if not all) drugs, especially those used for chronic diseases, you will find out why American-style medicine is the third leading cause of death in the U.S.
Utilize Big Pharma and you will trade suppressing your symptoms for a host of other, even more serious problems, requiring more intervention. I am personally proud to tell you that I’ve not written a prescription for this dangerous class of pain pills in over 20 years. I strongly suggest you avoid them with the same fervor.
Ref: Family Practice News, July 15, 2005.