Picking the right painkiller doesn't have to be a pain

Few of us consider exactly what painkiller we are popping when we feel under the weather. But many types of over-the-counter painkillers are available, each group effective for specific ailments.

Here Dr Mike Serpell, consultant in pain medicine at the University of Glasgow, and Dr Richard Marks, an anaesthetist at the Spire Bushey Hospital in North London, explain which drugs we should be using according to the type of pain we experience.

Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatories

Pain is the sensation we experience when we have either injured ourselves or are about to injure ourselves.

It is the body’s way of warning us to limit a body part’s use or to move it away from something dangerous. This arises because chemicals called prostaglandins are released by damaged cells which then trigger pain, inflammation and sometimes a high temperature.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are a group that stop the production of prostaglandins.

There is little difference between cheaper ‘generic’ drugs and their branded equivalent as their basic chemical composition is the same.

NSAIDS such as ibuprofen and naxoprofen are good for treating period pain, toothache and joint pain because they all involve inflammation.

Ibuprofen lysine is a faster-acting NSAID ideal for tackling migraines or when pain needs to be dealt with quickly. It is absorbed faster than traditional ibuprofen because lysine speeds up the pill’s breakdown in the stomach.

NSAID pain relief usually lasts eight hours.

Diclofenac is more potent and is mildly anaesthetic. It is available in low doses over the counter and is good for acute back and severe menstrual pain.

Dr Serpell says: ‘Ibuprofen is a global leader on tackling tissue-damage pain.’

Long-term use of NSAIDS can cause nausea, constipation and heartburn because prostaglandins not only trigger pain but also protect the stomach lining from its own acids.

Salicylic acid

Aspirin is also an NSAID but works by switching off the body’s pain response for longer – days rather than hours – so it cannot react to tissue damage. Aspirin thins the blood so is effective against migraines, when blood vessels in the head and neck are constricted. Long-term use can cause stomach upset.

Acid Reflux Home Remedies for Heartburn Relief | Izreke

Are you one of the millions of people who suffer from painful heartburn due to acid reflux disease? Does it feel like all you can do to feel better is take a prescription medication such as Nexium or Prevacid and those don’t even seem to help that much? Are you tired of feeling the burning sensation in your stomach and chest every day? It sounds as if you need to check out a few acid reflux home remedies .

Now, almost everyone suffers from occasional heartburn due to overeating or consuming foods and drinks that might increase our stomach’s acid production, but when you begin to have that painful burning sensation more than twice a week, you may be suffering from more serious condition known as acid reflux disease.

Many doctors won’t tell you that lots of prescription and over the counter medications for heartburn relief are only meant for short term use and can actually cause your condition to worsen over time. These temporary fixes do not actually address the cause of your acid reflux problem, so you cannot cure it. Thats where axid reflux home remedies can actually address the cause of your painful heartburn and fix it once and for all.

Maybe you’re wondering how it would be possible that you can use natural home remedies to really cure your acid reflux disease when a prescription medication can’t do it. This is natural, since we are all taught that the doctor knows best and if he prescribes you with a medication, it must be the only way. It’s time for you to stop thinking like this and realize that you can naturally and inexpensively cure your heartburn for good with a few simple remedies.

Do you know that there are certain foods that you can eat that will actually help you to ease your heartburn right now? Do you know that you probably have them in your home this very instant? On the flip side, are you aware of what foods you could be eating that are causing your acid reflux?

If you are one of the many who suffers from constant heartburn and you are tired of sinking hundreds of dollars into medications that don’t work for you, then you need to find a new way to cure your acid reflux. Now is the time to learn how to take control of your heartburn and find out how you can get your quality of life back.

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