Serious Side Effects Associated With Nsaids
The concern on both counts revolves around the quite serious side effects the medicines can cause, and the risks they pose especially if overused at higher doses for long periods. Two recent reports from Consumer Reports discuss the issue and offer detailed recommendations. One is the cover story in the June 2016 issue of Consumer Reports magazine. The second is an from Consumer Rehttp://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2013/07/treating-pain-with-nsaid-medications/index.htmports Best Buy Drugs, available online.
Theres little doubt that NSAIDs are overused for the everyday aches and pains that come with advancing years, says Marvin M. Lipman, MD, chief medical adviser at Consumer Reports. Long-term use of any pain killer requires close medical supervision.
Heres the most salient advice distilled from both articles, which draw on the latest research:
- All the NSAIDs there are about 20, with some available only by prescription can cause serious side effects. These include stomach ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding, kidney failure, heart attacks and strokes. Aspirin is the exception. It can cause GI bleeding and stomach ulcers but not heart attacks and strokes. Indeed, at low doses, aspirin can help prevent heart attacks and strokes, which are caused by blood clots that aspirin can counter.
Related Conditions Of Abdominal Pain
Some of the most common conditions associated with abdominal pain include the following:
Irritable Bowel Syndrome This condition is characterized by symptoms like diarrhea, constipation, and bloating.
Constipation If you arent having regular bowel movements, you may feel bloated and full and experience sharp gas pains in your abdomen.
Peptic Ulcer When a sore develops in the lining of your stomach or upper small intestine, you may experience a burning sensation similar to hunger pangs, along with nausea, vomiting, or heartburn.
Pancreatitis Inflammation of your pancreas may cause sharp, severe pain in the upper middle area of your abdomen, along with nausea, vomiting, or fever. This condition can be either acute or chronic.
Diverticulitis
What Can I Drink To Ease Stomach Pain
Here are some beverages that work as natural remedies for stomach problems.
Water
Its important to stay well hydrated if you have an upset stomach, especially if you have symptoms like diarrhea or vomiting, which can quickly lead to dehydration.
Coconut water
It contains nutrients like magnesium and potassium that help to reduce stomach contractions, muscle spasms, and stomach pain. Coconut water is a better option for rehydration than sports drinks and carbonated beverages because it is low in sugar and calories and does not cause acidity. You can try sipping a glass of coconut water every 2-3 hours to ease symptoms of an upset stomach.
Milk
If you have a feeling of burning or tightness in the lower chest, it could be due to acid reflux. One of the natural remedies that can work for this symptom is drinking a glass of milk. Milk neutralizes the stomach acid and relieves stomach aches. However, this may not be a good idea for people who have lactose intolerance.
Ginger tea
You can buy ginger tea from a supermarket or make it at home by boiling fresh ginger root in water. Ginger chews can help reduce nausea, stomach ache, vomiting, and diarrhea. Ginger supplements are available over the counter as well. Note that ginger ale is best avoided because it contains sugar that can feed the bad bacteria.
Peppermint tea
Aloe vera juice
Apple cider vinegar
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What Are The Common Side Effects Of Ulcer Medication
All medications may produce side effects, and side effects will vary depending on the type of medication. This is not a complete list of possible side effects, so consult with a healthcare professional about any concerns or questions you may have regarding your specific situation.
Proton pump inhibitors and H2 blockers are relatively safe medications available in prescription and over-the-counter formulations. The most commonly experienced side effects are digestive system problems such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation. H2 blockers can also affect the central nervous system, so headaches, drowsiness, and dizziness are often experienced.
Proton pump inhibitors can reduce the absorption of calcium in the body, which can lead to an increased risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures. Patients will often be prescribed or recommended calcium supplements to take along with proton pump inhibitors. Other serious side effects of proton pump inhibitors may include kidney disease, vitamin B12 deficiency, and diarrhea caused by Clostridium difficile infection.
The most serious side effects of H2 blockers are related to their effects on the central nervous system. These side effects may include delirium, hallucinations, extreme drowsiness, and slurred speech.
Make Lemon Tea Or Water
Lemon is another go-to for digestive health remedies. Lemon also helps to entice proper digestive secretions to ensure your food is properly broken down and moving along in your system.
If your stomach isnt feeling so great after a meal, make a hot lemon tea, or simply add 1 tbsp of lemon juice to a cup of water and sip on it to help relieve the stomach pain.
Heres more you cant miss about the benefits of lemon water: 11 Benefits of Drinking Lemon Water
If you really want to kick it up a notch, you could also add 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to your lemon water. This is also a great combination to have before a meal.
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Right Or Left Lower Abdominal Pain In Women
Sudden onset of right lower abdominal pain or left lower abdominal pain can indicate a ruptured ovarian cyst in a woman who is mid-cycle. This kind of pain could also be a sign of ovarian torsion, which is the rotation of the ovary and part of the fallopian tube, or possibly a twisting of the ovary due to compromised blood supply. Seek treatment immediately at the nearest emergency department. Surgery to remove the ovary may be required.
Nsaid Drugs And Stomach Ulcers
A group of painkillers known as NSAIDs carries a risk of stomach ulcers. The two best-known NSAIDs are aspirin and ibuprofen.
The risk of ulcers increases if the drugs are taken in high doses, or regularly for a long time.
Stronger NSAIDs, such as those that need a prescription, are riskier for stomach ulcers than those that can be bought over-the-counter .
People should always check labels and talk to a pharmacist or a doctor about any concerns with using painkillers. They may recommend an alternative such as acetaminophen.
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Treating Your Stomach Well: Your Action Plan
While any number of factors can bring on a stomachache, the good news is you have many easy at-home remedies that you can now use to address it.
Taking the last point into consideration, its important to identify if any foods in particular trigger an upset stomach so you can begin to reduce or remove them from your diet . Knowing how to address a stomachache if and when it comes on is far more beneficial than trying to just push through the pain and discomfort.
Whats more, most of these foods and tips provide digestive health benefits beyond just relieving the stomachache in the moment they can also can promote better digestion in the future.
Be sure to also consider using some of the pre-meal recommendations provided in this post, such as drinking ACV or water before a meal to help overall digestion.
Let us know which of these tips was most useful to you, or which you are excited to try next!
Sip Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar also helps promote a healthy gut and digestive system by increasing stomach acid and aiding your bodys ability to absorb key nutrients. Because of its high acidity, apple cider vinegar can cause indigestion and damage the teeth and throat it is best when diluted and used in small amounts.
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How Is Upset Stomach Diagnosed
Most cases of upset stomach are mild and self-limiting and able to be treated at home. The cause of more serious cases of upset can be diagnosed with a patient history of symptoms and a physical examination of the abdomen, which may include palpation of the area to check for tenderness, enlarged organs, or masses, and listening to the abdomen with a stethoscope for bowel sounds.
Other physical examinations to help determine the cause of an upset stomach may include:
- Rectal examination
What To Expect At Your Office Visit
Your provider will perform a physical exam and ask about your symptoms and medical history. Your specific symptoms, the location of pain and when it occurs will help your provider detect the cause.
LOCATION OF YOUR PAIN
- Where do you feel the pain?
- Is it all over or in one spot?
- Does the pain move into your back, groin, or down your legs?
TYPE AND INTENSITY OF YOUR PAIN
- Is the pain severe, sharp, or cramping?
- Do you have it all the time, or does it come and go?
- Does the pain wake you up at night?
HISTORY OF YOUR PAIN
- Have you had similar pain in the past? How long has each episode lasted?
- When does the pain occur? For example, after meals or during menstruation?
- What makes the pain worse? For example, eating, stress, or lying down?
- What makes the pain better? For example, drinking milk, having a bowel movement, or taking an antacid?
- What medicines are you taking?
OTHER MEDICAL HISTORY
- Have you had a recent injury?
- Are you pregnant?
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Other Options For Pain Relief
Painkillers arent the only answer for many of lifes aches and pains. Many effective and safe alternatives dont have any side effects at all.
- Ice packs, for acute injuries such as a sprained ankle, can keep down swelling and ease pain.
- Heat with a hot towel or heating pad can be helpful for treating chronic overuse injuries.
- Physical activity can help reduce some kinds of discomfort, such as arthritis pain.
- Relaxation with techniques such as yoga or meditation may reduce pain. Biofeedback may help as well. These approaches are best for pain thats amplified by stress, such as tension headaches.
- Nontraditional techniques with low risks such as acupuncture benefit some people.
So remember: Pain relief doesnt only come from a pill bottle.
What Do You Take If You Have Diarrhea
over-the-counter medicationOver-the-counter optionsImodiumPepto-BismolKaopectateFoods to avoid while experiencing diarrhea include:
- milk and dairy products
- processed foods, especially those with additive foods.
- pork and veal.
These foods have insoluble fiber:
- The skins of fruit.
- Whole wheat, wheat bran, and whole-grain cereal products.
- Brown rice.
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Liver And Gallbladder Issues
Pain in the upper right stomach that comes and goes could signal a problem with the gallbladder, such as gallstones.
Gallstones can block the ducts of the gallbladder, making digestion more difficult. This causes pain shortly after eating, especially after very fatty meals. People with gallstones may notice that the pain appears a few hours after eating, lasts for 46 hours, and then disappears.
Gallstones sometimes pass on their own. If they do not, they can block the biliary ducts, which can affect liver function. Untreated gallstones may also cause problems with the pancreas.
If a person experiences vomiting, pale stool, or a fever along with symptoms of gallstones, they should seek emergency medical treatment.
Otherwise, see a doctor for a diagnosis and treatment plan. Home treatment is not effective for gallstones.
Can I Use Nsaids To Treat My Pain
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are over-the-counter pain relievers commonly used to treat pain and swelling.
At one point or another, you have probably tried an NSAID like ibuprofen or naproxen to help with a headache or swollen ankle.
Its a well-documented fact that NSAIDs can cause a number of damaging and dangerous side effects.
NSAIDs increase your risk of heart attack and stroke.
Even if you have no other risk factors, like obesity or high blood pressure, NSAIDs can still increase your risk of a deadly heart attack or disabling stroke.
And if you are using NSAIDs to treat acute or chronic pain of the spine, they may actually be the cause of your stomach pain.
According to the FDA, NSAIDs can cause a variety of gastrointestinal issues, ranging from mild indigestion to life-threatening bleeding.
Gastrointestinal bleeding, which is bleeding in the stomach or elsewhere in the digestive tract, is rare among people who use NSAIDs only occasionally. But the risk goes up for people who use them regularly.
Your risk of a severe GI bleed also goes up if you:
> are over the age of 65> have a history of stomach ulcers> regularly drink alcohol> take blood thinners > take corticosteroids
Thankfully, there are other ways to treat your back and stomach pain.
Key Takeaway: NSAIDs may be contributing to your stomach pain and putting you at risk of serious, even life-threatening complications.
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When To Visit Urgent Care For Your Stomach Ache
When you first notice your stomach hurting or cramping up, you can try at-home remedies, like resting and drinking plenty of fluids. Within a few hours or perhaps the next day, your stomach ache might start to feel better on its own. If your stomach pain persists, you should visit a doctor.
- Vomit is green or yellow, or has blood in it.
- Stool has blood in it.
- Stomach pain is too severe for you to walk, or move much at all.
Visit your local Urgent Medical Center if:
- Less severe abdominal pain continually persists.
- You are unable to properly eat or sleep due to stomach pain.
- You, or the person experiencing persistent stomach pains, are elderly or a child.
- Vomiting and diarrhea lasts for more than 24-48 hours.
Want relief from your stomach ache? Visit us today at Urgent Medical Center for the compassionate medical care you need.
How Do I Know If My Stomach Pain Is Serious
If you experience any of the following symptoms with stomach pain, see a doctor because these may be a sign of a more serious condition: Pain is severe and lasts more than an hour or comes and goes for more than 24 hours. Pain starts suddenly. Bloody bowel movements. Black, tarry stool. Diarrhea. Vomiting.
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How Are Ulcers Treated
Three kinds of medicines can be used to treat ulcers. All of them do a good job of healing ulcers. Your doctor can tell you which one is right for you. You should take the medicine just as your doctor tells you to.
The first kind of medicine reduces the amount of acid your stomach makes. This medicine can heal an ulcer in the duodenum in six to eight weeks. Ulcers in the stomach take a little longer to heal. You take these medicines for eight to 12 weeks if you have a stomach ulcer.
A second kind of medicine blocks the stomachs ability to make acid. This medicine helps heal an ulcer in the duodenum in four weeks. It helps heal stomach ulcers in six to eight weeks.
A third kind of medicine coats the ulcer. It protects the sore place from stomach acid, so it can heal. This kind of medicine takes eight to 12 weeks to heal an ulcer.
History Of Ulcer Causes
Ulcers have a unique and interesting history when it comes to their suspected causes. For decades, stomach ulcers were considered to be psychosomatic, meaning a high-stress lifestyle was to blame. At the time doctors started identifying high rates of ulcers in hard-working businessmen who smoked a lot of cigarettes and were likely sleep-deprived, and then animal studies further confirmed stress-triggered ulcers. Rats producing high amounts of stomach acid experienced a decrease in stomach ulcer symptoms when researchers fed them antacids, so a connection was then drawn between ulcers, chronic stress and an increase in stomach acid, which changed ulcer treatment approaches forever.
A bacterium called Helicobacter pylori was then discovered that seemed to be present in nearly everyone suffering from ulcers. It was also found to runin families and was connected to other digestive disorders, including stomach cancer. In patients given medications/antibiotics to kill H. pylori, ulcers were often resolved at least for a period of time.
However, today its more common to treat ulcers using less risky acid-reducing drugs in combination with lifestyle and dietary changes, rather than prescribing antibiotics to kill H. pylori, which can come with complications and lead to antibiotic resistance. Antibiotics used to combat H. pylori can work short term to lower the bacteria, but dont seem to keep it from returning without other interventions.
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Do Some Gentle Yoga Stretches
Most of these tips have focused on internal remedies for stomach pain, but you can also get some relief by stretching.
A number of yoga poses are designed to help stimulate digestion and relieve bloating, which can make you feel less crampy and miserable. For quick relief, try a knees-to-stomach pose. Lie on your back somewhere comfortable.
Draw your knees up to your chest and wrap your arms around your shins. Make sure to keep your back flat on the floor. Hold this pose for one minute, and then release.
Repeat this pose until you feel better.
What Naturally Reduces Bloating
Here are additional suggestions to decrease bloating: Eat slowly, and consume smaller, more frequent meals. Chew your foods well. Drink beverages at room temperature. Have your dentures checked for a good fit. Increase physical activity during the day. Sit up straight after eating. Take a stroll after eating.
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