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DON'T Take Ibuprofen If You Have These Medical Issues...

Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug that’s designed to reduce inflammation and pain-causing hormones in the body. It’s loved by athletes and depended on by women who suffer from menstrual cramps, but the reality is that ibuprofen isn’t as benign as you might think. Here are 7 instances where ibuprofen can actually be dangerous:
 

1. If you have heart disease

DON'T Take Ibuprofen If You Have These Medical Issues...

Ibuprofen is an NSAID, which is a kind of drug that has been linked to an increased risk of heart attacks or strokes. In fact, a 2017 study conducted in the United Kingdom found that those who used ibuprofen daily for a week or longer were at a 20-50% elevated risk of a heart attack. Those at risk of heart disease should also be cautious when using ibuprofen, and those who take blood pressure medication should be even more so.

2. If you take anti-clotting medication

Anticoagulant and antiplatelet medication is designed to stop blood from clotting together. They’re usually prescribed to people at high risk of suffering a stroke, or to those who have suffered a pulmonary embolism. The problem is that using ibuprofen in combination with these drugs can lead to a significantly increased risk of bleeding complications. If you happen to take such medication, speak to your doctor about the possibility of using celecoxib, which is less likely to induce bleeding.

3. If you have gastrointestinal issues

DON'T Take Ibuprofen If You Have These Medical Issues...

NSAID drugs irritate both stomach and intestinal linings, reducing blood flow to these areas, thus impairing their ability to fix themselves. If you have existing digestive issues, such as inflammatory bowel disease, then you might want to consider avoiding ibuprofen – it has no significant effect on such an ailment, or those similar to it.

4. If you’re pregnant

Studies have shown that NSAIDs raise the risk of miscarriage in early pregnancy, as well as increasing the risk of heart defects in the third trimester. Furthermore, a study on fetal tissue suggested an association between women taking ibuprofen during their first trimester, and reduced fertility, to the point where it could even compromise a daughter’s future fertility. Taking ibuprofen during labor and delivery is also a bad idea because it could lead to prolonged bleeding.

5. If you have a urinary tract infection

DON'T Take Ibuprofen If You Have These Medical Issues...

Although there are some who believe that NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and similar drugs can actually be used to treat urinary tract infections, there are others who argue that they do nothing of the sort. This is because there’s conflicting evidence in the literature related to the study of ibuprofen and other NSAIDs. In fact, one study showed that women who took ibuprofen to help heal a UTI took three days longer on average to heal than those who didn’t.

6. If you have arthritis

Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs have long been prescribed for arthritic pain, but that doesn’t negate the fact that such drugs have a negative effect on the gastrointestinal and cardiovascular systems. Arthritis patients with a history of stomach or heart issues should think twice before taking ibuprofen because studies have shown that it significantly increases the risk of hypertension.

7. If you have asthma

DON'T Take Ibuprofen If You Have These Medical Issues...
Asthma sufferers should avoid ibuprofen and other NSAIDs, and this is because they work by inhibiting an enzyme that in turn reduces the production of prostaglandins, which helps with healing. Interfering with prostaglandins when you suffer from asthma could exacerbate your symptoms. In fact, ibuprofen use could lead to a life-threatening bronchospasm event.
 
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