The older you get, the more you will likely find that pain becomes a frequent part of life. Injuries and other sources of pain can make it necessary to take occasional pain pills. While they help to relieve pain, they also may cause other problems that may shorten your life if you take them too often.
Over-the-counter pain pills are available at many grocery and drug stores. Some of them specialize in the type of pain they help reduce, including back pain, arthritis pain, joint pain, headache pain, UTI pain, menstrual pain, and more.
The problem with many of these pills is that they can cause heart attacks and strokes. They are proven to cause bleeding in the stomach, stomach ulcers, and kidney issues. Cardiovascular problems can also result from taking these medications over a long period.
The biggest risk comes from taking NSAIDs. This group of drugs includes such names as Naproxen, Ibuprofen, Advil, Aleve, Celebrex, Daypro, and many more. As of 2005, every bottle of NSAIDs must have a warning label on them, notifying the user that they can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke, which could shorten longevity.
Currently, it is unknown which NSAID has the highest risk. The risk increases within a couple of weeks of taking the pain medicine. People who have had a heart attack increase the possibility of death within one year.
When you need pain relievers, you always want to take the minimum amount possible. If you have had heart problems, over-the-counter pain pills may raise your risk of heart attack or stroke by 10 percent, but if you take prescription-strength pain pills, it can elevate your risk by 20 to 50 percent.
Sometimes, you may feel increased pain because of a lack of sleep. A lack of sleep can also cause a lack of sleep – making it worse. Not getting enough nightly sleep can result in muscle pain, headaches, body aches, and more. When you get enough sleep, your pain levels are lower when you get at least eight hours.
A lack of sleep is also connected to many of the top leading causes of death in the US. Getting more sleep may help to relieve some of your pain – possibly making it unnecessary to take strong pain pills.
The brain produces a natural hormone called NADA, which helps reduce pain. When you do not get enough sleep at night, your brain produces less of this hormone, which lets you feel pain more sharply. A lack of sufficient levels of this hormone can also lead to problems such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and more.
Women are more affected than men by taking certain pain medicines, particularly Tylenol. The problem is that it increases the risk of high blood pressure. Just taking one extra-strength Tylenol could increase your risk of high blood pressure by about 95% within three years.
Even taking aspirin for pain relief is not a good idea – not even taking it in a low dose. It can cause stomach pain, bleeding, and heartburn. It may be helpful, though, after having a heart attack, and your doctor may recommend it.
When you need help with pain, some other choices may be helpful. You may also be able to use topical NSAIDs, which are not as strong as regular NSAIDs, inflammation tablets, natural painkillers, or prescription pain medication. Muscle relaxers may also benefit, but they are prescription only.