| Vioxx, Celebrex, and Bextra were expected to be | | | | than peptic ulcers, chronic users may develop: kidney |
| blockbuster drugs: improving clinical results and reaping | | | | damage, gastric bleeding (including possible |
| in huge profits for the drug companies. Instead, after | | | | life-threatening levels of blood loss), and increased |
| learning about the side effects linked to these drugs, | | | | risk of pancreatic cancer. Women especially are at |
| many patients have been leaving these drugs behind, | | | | increased risk for pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer |
| and turning to over-the-counter medicines for a safer | | | | is a particularly quick and deadly form of cancer. |
| option. Many have turned to aspirin. At one point | | | | Research has shown that women taking more than 1 |
| after the news, the nation's No. 1 online pharmacy, | | | | aspirin each day for twenty years increased |
| Drugstore.com, saw a 15 percent increase in aspirin | | | | pancreatic cancer risk by almost 60 percent! Women |
| sales. And it's no wonder, aspirin has been around for | | | | who took more than two aspirin per day had an 86 |
| over 100 years. It is one of the oldest, and must | | | | percent greater risk than controls. While pancreatic |
| trusted painkillers. Interestingly, because it has been | | | | cancer affects only 31,000 Americans per years, |
| around for so long, it never had to undergo the | | | | most patients don't make it past their third year |
| rigorous testing most new drugs undergo before | | | | after diagnosis. |
| hitting the market as an over-the-counter drug. | | | | Regarding taking aspirin to avoid cardiovascular |
| Headaches, toothaches, arthritis symptoms, soft | | | | events, a British research trial of 5000 men showed |
| tissue or muscle injuries, aspirin is effective in | | | | that while those men that previously had a heart |
| reducing pain from a variety of sources. Over 100 | | | | attack clearly benefitted from taking long-term, |
| billion tablets are consumed each year on this planet, | | | | low-dose aspirin; the results for men without a |
| and although occasional use is mostly side-effect | | | | history of heart attack were not a rosy. It seems |
| free, reliance on aspirin does carry risks. Long-term | | | | that men with high blood pressure don't derive the |
| use may result in serious problems such as | | | | same benefit from aspirin therapy, while those with |
| gastrointestinal bleeding, so doctors usually do not | | | | low blood pressure had a modest benefit. All had an |
| recommend it for chronic pain sufferers. In fact, | | | | increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding. In those |
| some pharmacists believe that if aspirin were a new | | | | men with high blood pressure, controlling that high |
| drug today, it would not be given 'over-the-counter' | | | | blood pressure should offer more benefit than taking |
| status. Just because something is sold over the | | | | aspirin. |
| counter, people tend to think it is safe. This isn't | | | | So what are the alternatives? Simple lifestyle choices |
| always the case. Some facts might help shed light on | | | | such as exercising, and taking an omega-3 rich fish oil |
| this discussion. Research shows that of patients that | | | | supplement can have huge benefits. For relief from |
| are taking low-dose aspirin in an attempt to prevent | | | | arthritis, sore muscles and joints, and back pain, try |
| a heart attack, over 10 percent develop peptic ulcers. | | | | Biofreeze. It's a deep penetrating, long-lasting gel or |
| Peptic ulcers may have no symptoms. Using | | | | spray. Formula 303 offers natural relief from muscle |
| endoscopy, researchers from the University of | | | | spasm, tension, and stress. For minor pain & |
| Western Sydney in Australia studied 187 patients | | | | inflammation, Inflavinoid can offer great relief. |
| taking between 75 milligrams and 325 milligrams of | | | | Even though these natural alternatives to aspirin are |
| aspirin daily for at least one month. They discovered | | | | effective, you need to ask yourself a few questions: |
| that 10.7 percent of the patients developed ulcers at | | | | What's the reason I need an anti-inflammatory or |
| least 3 millimeters in diameter, but only 20 percent of | | | | pain-reliever? Why isn't my body healing and repairing |
| them experienced symptoms of the ulcers. Three | | | | itself like it should? What changed in my life when |
| months later, they repeated the endoscopy for the | | | | these symptoms began? |
| 113 people who did not have ulcers when the study | | | | The best way to answer those questions is with a |
| began and found that over 7 % had developed an | | | | foundational blood analysis. It provides a window into |
| ulcer during this period. This increased the annual ulcer | | | | your body's systems, to see where they have gone |
| rate to 28 percent! These researchers concluded that | | | | off track. When you are lacking nutrients, or your |
| the possible adverse health risks of aspirin should be | | | | eating habits are reducing your ability to heal, or you |
| carefully considered before long-term use begins, | | | | are dealing with toxin build-up in your body, it shows |
| especially for patients that are at low heart attack | | | | in your test results. Recommendations based on your |
| risk to begin with. | | | | test results, including diet, lifestyle, and supplements |
| In some conventional medical circles, aspirin is | | | | can propel you to reach your health goals. |
| considered a useful tool in lowering cardiovascular risk | | | | Federal Law requires that we warn you of the |
| at just one dose a day. But let's not forget that | | | | following: |
| aspirin is a drug, and all drugs can be both beneficial | | | | 1. The information provided in this article is for |
| and harmful. Once you have a firm grasp on natural | | | | educational purposes only. |
| medicine principles, it's clear to see that no drug is the | | | | 2. Your individual health status and any required health |
| best solution for a chronic, degenerative disease. | | | | care treatments can only be properly addressed by a |
| Even though short-term use can give wonderful | | | | professional healthcare provider of your choice. |
| benefits, long-term use can bring a combination of | | | | Remember: There is no adequate substitution for a |
| side effects greater than the benefits. | | | | personal consultation with your chosen health care |
| Consider Vioxx. Tens of thousands of hopeful users | | | | provider. Therefore, we encourage you to make |
| lost their lives in an attempt to temporarily solve their | | | | your own health care decisions based upon your |
| pain problems. If you read the studies on the safety | | | | research and in partnership with a qualified health care |
| and efficacy of aspirin, you too can see that it | | | | professional. |
| carries potentially greater risks than benefits. Other | | | | |