Common pain-killers could be killing you slowly

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are often prescribed to treat a variety of painful conditions but popping these pain-killers may be putting you at the risk of ulcers, increased blood pressure and heart problems, warns a new study.

"It's been well known for a number of years that newer types of NSAIDs what are known as COX-2 inhibitors increase the risk of heart attacks," said Morten Schmidt from Denmark's Aarhus University, who was in-charge of the study.

"For this reason, a number of these newer types of NSAIDs have been taken off the market again. We can now see that some of the older NSAID types, particularly Diclofenac, are also associated with an increased risk of heart attack and apparently to the same extent as several of the types that were taken off the market," Schmidt added.

"This is worrying, because these older types of medicine are frequently used throughout the western world and in many countries available without prescription," Schmidt noted.

The study was carried out in collaboration between 14 European universities and hospitals. The researchers gathered all research on the use of NSAIDs in patients with heart disease.

NSAIDs are not antibiotics and therefore do not help to fight infections caused by bacteria. These drugs are particularly used in the treatment of disorders related to the muscular and bone system, where they counteract swelling, pain and limitations in movement associated with inflammation.