Have you ever taken Ibuprofen (Motrin/Advil) or Naproxen (Aleve/Naprosyn) to alleviate pain? If so, you are like millions of others who seek temporary relief from these popular medications. These drugs as well as the Cox-2 inhibitors Vioxx, Bextra and Celebrex are known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Serious side effects of NSAIDs have been known for a while. A December 1, 1998, story in USA Today noted that 16,500 people died from bleeding stomach ulcers brought on by NSAID use and that 80% of those had no symptoms prior to death. A Danish study published in the British Medical Journal in January 2001 found a strong link between the use of prescription NSAIDs by pregnant women and miscarriage.

In addition, it has been discovered recently that NSAIDs may cause another life-threatening side effect: cardiovascular disease. This risk is so substantial that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued a warning urging the public to limit the use of NSAIDs and to strictly adhere to label directions. Furthermore, on April 7, 2005 the FDA asked drug manufacturer Pfizer to voluntarily withdraw Bextra from the market and urged manufacturers of all other NSAID products to strengthen warning labels.

A study sponsored by The National Institute on Aging to determine whether Celebrex or Naproxen could prevent Alzheimer’s disease was halted when it became apparent

that those taking Naproxen developed a 50 percent higher risk of heart attack and stroke than those taking a placebo. In fact Naproxen is so detrimental to one’s health that those who have been taking the over-the-counter version, Aleve, for nearly three years are now advised to stop using it. People who are considering taking it are advised to limit their use to no more than 400mg per day for no longer than ten days. This advisory can be a little scary for those who have been taking the prescription version Naprosyn since the previous recommended daily intake was 1500mg.

Lifetime wellness does not come from a pill or a potion. If you are taking NSAIDs for temporary pain relief you will want to consider finding a healthier option. For millions of Americans, even those suffering from arthritis, wellness chiropractic care is that healthier option. Chiropractic care removes pressure from your spine and nerve system to quickly alleviate pain and balance the body for a lifetime. Children can also benefit from chiropractic care since keeping the spine and nerve system balanced and healthy even before problems occur can go a long way to ensuring a healthy, drug free life.

The health choices you make today will affect your quality of life tomorrow. Make educated choices and share your knowledge with the people you love so they too can avoid problematic painkillers and enjoy the healthy solution that chiropractic care provides

Start living healthier today!!!

Pruitt Chiropractic
88 East Main Road
Middletown
(401) 847.8889
www.pruittchiropractic.com