How many of us take an ibuprofen or a naproxen when we have aches or pains or even a headache without thinking twice about it. If you're like most people, I'm sure that's exactly what you do.  Research published in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes recently may have many of us thinking differently.  The article, "Cause-specific cardiovascular risk associated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) among healthy individuals", looked at a sample size of 1,028,437 Danish individuals over the age of 10. Use of the nonselective NSAIDs, diclofenac, and the cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, rofecoxib, were associated with a dose dependent increased risk of cardiovascular death.  In addition, ibuprofen, was associated with an increased risk of fatal or nonfatal stroke. Naproxen was not associated with an increased cardiovascular risk in this study.

While this is not the first study to highlight the cardiovascular risks associated with NSAIDs, it gives us a chance to consider the thought that all drugs in a certain pharmaceutical class, don't have the same risk profile. NSAIDs are an integral part of the arsenal of medications we use everyday to alleviate our patients' pain as well as our own.  We need to keep in mind  that  one drug maybe more appropriate for a patient than another.

Here's my challenge for you. Before you take your next dose of one of these drugs, ask yourself this question? Do I really need this medication, or is there something else I could do to feel better? 

Post by Anne Dabrow Woods, MSN, RN, CRNP, ANP-BC