Could ibuprofen be making you deaf?
Chronic pain is a real and significant epidemic in the United States. Here are some statistics:
. Up to 80 percent of the U.S. population will experience back pain at some point in their lives
. World Health Organization estimates that half the adult population in the world has experienced a headache in the past year
. Overall, pain costs the U.S. between $560 billion and $635 billion each year
Over the counter analgesic pain medications sales have risen over the past decade. In the past three years, annual sales have jumped by $300,000.
The problem is, these medications have been shown to produce many side effects. Recent research has linked ibuprofen and acetaminophen with hearing loss.
In the following video, Dr. Partha Nandi, chief health editor for WXYZ (ABC) News Detroit, discusses the study results and ways to protect your hearing.
The most recent research has shown that the use of pain relievers may increase the risk of hearing loss.
Data from over 55,000 women in the Nurses Health Study found that those who used NSAIDs and acetaminophen regularly for more than six years had a 9-10 percent higher risk of hearing loss a decade later.
Lead author Dr. Gary Curhan, a professor at Brigham and Women’s Hospital noted:
“I worry that people think NSAIDs and acetaminophen are completely safe, and that they don’t need to think about their potential [side effects]. But particularly for people who are taking them for chronic pain, I try to encourage them to look at why they are having the pain, not what they can take to try to treat the pain.”
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Acetaminophen while pregnant is associated with child behavioral problems.
Acetaminophen reduces your ability to feel other peoples’ pain.
Acetaminophen is now linked to asthma risk.
REFERENCES:
1. “What? Ibuprofen Can Make You Deaf?” Mercola.com. Mercola.com, n.d. Web. 04 Jan. 2017.
2. “What to Know If You Take Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen Often.” Time. Time, n.d. Web. 04 Jan. 2017.
3. “AAPM Facts and Figures on Pain.” American Academy of Pain Medicine. American Academy of Pain Medicine, n.d. Web. 04 Jan. 2017.
4. “Back Pain Facts and Statistics.” American Chiropractic Association. American Chiropractic Association, n.d. Web. 04 Jan. 2017.
5. “Duration of Analgesic Use and Risk of Hearing Loss in Women.” American Journal of Epidemiology | Oxford Academic. Oxford University Press, 04 Jan. 2017. Web. 04 Jan. 2017.
