Taking pain killers increases the risk of heart attack

Taking ibuprofen or other common painkillers for only one week increases the risk of a heart attack.

Data from 450,000 patients has linked five forms of painkillers – ibuprofen, celecoxib, diclofenac, naproxen, and rofecoxib – to heart problems.

People who take strong doses of the drugs – called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) – are at risk of developing heart attack.

The researchers from the University of Montreal stressed that because most people have only a small risk of a heart attack to start with, the absolute risk of an attack directly contributed to taking NSAIDs is only about 1 per cent a year.

Taking  ibuprofen for a week had a 48 per cent increased relative risk of a heart attack, those who took celecoxib saw a 24 per cent increase, diclofenac 50 per cent, naproxen 53 per cent and refecoxib 58 per cent.

Using ibuprofen for one month increases the risk of heart attack to 75 per cent. Researchers said the drug may cause arteries to constrict, increase fluid retention and raise blood pressure.

Alternative theories include the possibility that they encourage the clumping of platelets and formation of blood clots. People must be aware of the
risk of pain killers drugs and consider alternative drugs to treat pain.