| Popular anti-inflammatory, pain-killing drugs (called | | | | The drugs have side-effects and some would |
| NSAIDs-or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) | | | | even say that they are dangerous, but what are |
| may increase the risk of relapse in patients with | | | | we to do? Many people have pain, and relief is a |
| heart failure according to a study published in the | | | | priority for them. Chronic pain is the most costly |
| Archives of Internal Medicine (February 11, | | | | health problem in America, with an estimated |
| 2002;162:265-270). NSAIDs, a group of drugs that | | | | annual cost of about $90 billion per year. This cost |
| includes aspirin and ibuprofen, are often used to | | | | includes lost productivity, legal costs, doctors' visits |
| treat pain and inflammation. | | | | and medication; 80% of all visits to the doctor are |
| The drugs will not create congestive heart failure | | | | pain related. An estimated 40 million Americans |
| (also called CHF), but there may be an association | | | | have arthritis or other rheumatic condition. That |
| between the use of the drugs and relapse in | | | | number is expected to climb to 59.4 million, or |
| patients already diagnosed with CHF. CHF occurs | | | | 18.2% of the population, by the year 2020, |
| when the heart loses the ability to pump | | | | according to a new report published as a |
| efficiently, creating fluid build-up in the body, | | | | collaborative effort between the National |
| including the lungs. | | | | Institutes of Health (NIH), the Centers for Disease |
| Aspirin is often taken to reduce the risk of heart | | | | Control and Prevention (CDC), the Arthritis |
| attack, but some research has suggested that | | | | Foundation, and the American College of |
| those who take other pain medications may | | | | Rheumatology. Approximately 12% of all |
| increase their risk of heart failure. Researchers | | | | Americans suffer from migraine headaches. Nine |
| found that patients who had filled at least one | | | | out of 10 migraine sufferers report they can't |
| NSAID prescription were nearly 10 times more | | | | "function normally" during days in which a migraine |
| likely than those who didn't use the drugs to have | | | | strikes. Three out of 10 migraine sufferers require |
| a relapse of CHF. | | | | bed rest when suffering from a migraine. |
| For certain patients, NSAIDs may indeed cause | | | | In 2001, over 13 million people saw a physician for |
| fluid retention and high blood pressure. Patients | | | | the treatment of back pain. According to the NIH, |
| who have had angina, congestive heart failure, | | | | 65 to 80% of all people have back pain at some |
| bypass surgery, heart attack, or angioplasty with | | | | time in their life. Half of all working Americans |
| stent placement should seriously consider safer | | | | admit to having back pain symptoms each year. |
| alternatives. | | | | Back pain costs an estimated $50 billion each year. |
| Medication vs Natural Health Care for Pain | | | | We try not to get too political in this newsletter, |
| This month we are sharing some of the research | | | | but I can't imagine that speaking in favor of the |
| about pain and the use of natural health care. A | | | | First Amendment is very controversial. There is a |
| common misconception that many patients have | | | | product made from a patented extract of |
| about treating pain is that the drugs they are | | | | skullcap that would have been worth mentioning in |
| taking are actually doing some good. Pain | | | | this article. The manufacturer is worried about any |
| medication does not heal or repair a problem-it | | | | claims being made about the product-because it |
| only offers temporary relief. That relief comes at | | | | may cause problems with the FDA. |
| a price. Pain medication causes problems. | | | | It has outperformed COX-2 inhibitors in clinical |
| Arthritis patients take NSAIDs regularly without | | | | studies, but the manufacturer can't compare the |
| realizing that they actually interfere with cartilage | | | | product head-to-head with drugs. It has improved |
| repair. These drugs are linked to high blood | | | | WOMAC scores on arthritis patients, but the |
| pressure, kidney failure, heart failure, ulceration of | | | | manufacturer can't say that the product treats |
| the GI tract, and some drugs even interfere with | | | | joint pain. They can say that the WOMAC score |
| bone repair. | | | | is improved, but can't say what WOMAC |
| According to research appearing in the American | | | | is-because it contains the word "arthritis" (it is a |
| Journal of Medicine, "Conservative calculations | | | | pain-rating scale). |
| estimate that approximately 107,000 patients are | | | | In the mean time, products that are linked to high |
| hospitalized annually for nonsteroidal | | | | blood pressure, kidney failure, heart failure and |
| anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-related | | | | death can make claims. Maybe the reason so |
| gastrointestinal (GI) complications and at least | | | | many older Americans take so many drugs is |
| 16,500 NSAID-related deaths occur each year | | | | because they start young-with pain medication |
| among arthritis patients alone. The figures for all | | | | (that help to destroy joints-making sure that they |
| NSAID users would be overwhelming, yet the | | | | continue to need them) and safe alternative |
| scope of this problem is generally under | | | | products are not allowed to make claims. |
| appreciated" | | | | |