NSAIDs+(ibuprofen,+advil,+aleve)



NSAIDS stand for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Aspirin and other drugs that are physiologically active are almost always involved in altering the chemical communication in the body. It reduces fever and pain in the brain, inflammation in muscles and joint, and is known to decrease chance of stroke, heart attack, and likelihood of colon, stomach, and rectal cancer. One thing that aspirin does is block COX enzymes. COX enzymes catalyze the synthesis of prostaglandins, which produce fever and swelling, increase sensitivity of pain receptors, inhibit blood vessel dilation, among other things. Generally this is a good thing, because the pain felt signals to the body that something is wrong. This is why you may feel discomfort when sick or injured. Aspirin prevents prostaglandin production, and therefore acts as a pain reliever. NSAIDs can be harmful however when used in the wrong curcumstances. The COX enzyme is responsible for mucus production in the stomach. The mucus is necessary for keeping stomach acid from creating peptic ulcers. Normally it wouldnt be a problem to have a bit less mucus, but if you were to have already removed a layer of the mucus (say with alcohol which might make for a nasty headache) it can make for circumstances where there is not enough mucus to cover the stomach and the acid can burn through. Aleve is just a brand of naproxen and naproxen sodium. These go by many names and brands. Although this drug is available by prescription only in most of the world, the FDA has approved of it to be sold over the counter in the United States.

Cardiovascular
NSAIDs aside from aspirin, both newer COX-2 antagonists and traditional anti-inflammatories, increase the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke. They are not recommended in those who have had a previous heart attack as they increase the risk of death and / or recurrent MI. Naproxen seems least harmful. NSAIDs aside from (low-dose) aspirin are associated with a doubled risk of symptomatic heart failure in patients without a history of cardiac disease. In patients with such a history, however, use of NSAIDs (aside from low-dose aspirin) was associated with more than 10-fold increase in heart failure. If this link is found to be causal, NSAIDs are estimated to be responsible for up to 20 percent of hospital admissions for congestive heart failure. In people with heart failure, NSAIDs increase mortality risk by approximately 1.2-1.3 for naproxen and ibuprofen, 1.7 for rofecoxib and celecoxib, and 2.1 for diclofenac.