Anti-inflammatory Drugs Increase Risk of Second Heart Attack: Doctors advised not to recommend Voltaren, Vioxx, Celebrix, Naproxen, Ibuprofenetc in these cases.
James Meschino DC, MS, ROHP
A study published in Circulation on September 10, 2012 reaffirms that if a patient has had a previous heart attack, the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, with the exception of aspirin, increases the risk of another heart attack. This study investigated the effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in patients with a previous heart attack (myocardial infarction or MI) and found an increased cardiovascular risk associated with these drugs persists for at least five years after the heart attack. This means that even 5-years after a heart attack it is not safe for a patient to take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications.
One of the researchers noted that The American Heart Association issued guidelines in 2007 discouraging doctors from prescribing or recommending use of NSAIDs in patients with prior heart attack history, but in this study 44% of the heart attack patients were still taking NSAIDs in 2009; the message has obviously not gotten through to doctors or patients.
The evidence indicates that the use of NSAID’s such as diclofenac (Voltaren), Vioxx (Merck) and Celebrix show a significant increase in risk of heart attack in these cases. Many patients take these drugs to reduce pain and inflammation of arthritis and other joint conditions. Although Naproxen showed a lower risk of inducing heart attack, it still was associated with an increased risk compared to patients not taking any NSAID’s. Like ibuprofen, naproxen was associated with a high risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, which is associated with poor prognosis in post heart attack patients. They therefore advocate “a very conservative approach to using NSAIDs among patients with MI.”
Some researchers now believe that none of these medications should be available over-the-counter, as is presently the case. The concern among many experts is that NSAID drugs substantially increase risk of a second heart attack, as well as causing intestinal erosion and internal bleeding.
What’s The Alternative?
The alternative to using NSAID drugs for arthritis and joint pain and inflammation problems is supplementation with a combination herbal supplement containing:
Curcumin
Boswellia
White Willow Extract
Ginger
And the use of a supplement to repair joint cartilage containing:
Glucosamine Sulphate
MSM
Quercetin
Bromelain enzymes
Some of these natural agents have been under appreciated in the conventional medical world, but human studies support their efficacy in reducing inflammation and arthritis and other muscle, tendon and connective tissue inflammation.
Reference:
Schjerning Olsen A, Fosbøl L, Lindhardsen J, et al. Long-term cardiovascular risk of NSAID use according to time passed after first-time myocardial infarction. A nationwide cohort study. Circulation 2012; DOI: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.112.112607. Available at: http://circ.ahajournals.org