AHA Recommends that their Doctors Do Not Prescribe NSAIDs to their Patients.

In 2007 the American Heart Association (AHA) released a statement that got published in their journal Circulation. In this important statement, the AHA recommended to their doctors that they be extremely cautious about recommending non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for muscle and joint aches.

For muscle aches, joint aches, and other body aches and pains:

“Initial treatment should focus on nonpharmacological approaches (eg, physical therapy, heat/cold, orthotics).”

What they overlook, of course, is the expert management of back pain, neck pain and headaches by a Doctor of Chiropractic. Chiropractors make their careers out of caring for these problems without using pharmacology. Patients with heart disease can safely be treated by chiropractors.  With chiropractic care, these patients will be able to cope with less or no added chemicals in their system.  Many patients who see chiropractors are those who are too sensitive to pharmaceutical drugs, or have experienced addictions in the past, and choose not to use drugs to handle their pain.

“Current evidence indicates that selective COX-2 inhibitors have important adverse cardiovascular effects that include increased risk for myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, and hypertension.The risk for these adverse effects is likely greatest in patients with a prior history of or at high risk for cardiovascular disease.”

“In these patients, use of COX-2 inhibitors for pain relief should be limited to patients for whom there are no appropriate alternatives, and then, only in the lowest dose and for the shortest duration necessary.”

(A Cox-2 inhibitor is a type of NSAID that is safer for side effects for the lining of the stomach and colon, but is risky for the bloodstream. A normal aspirin, which is an NSAID, inhibits two kinds of enzymes: COX-1 and COX2.  COX-1 destroys the lining of the stomach, so sometimes they want to use the more selective COX-2 inhibitor for pain relief. Chiropractic care inhibits neither of these enzymes.)

“The debate about the increased risk of cardiovascular events attributed to the selective COX-2 inhibitors and the nonselective NSAIDs is part of a broader national debate about drug safety.”

Even if you are not being managed by your doctor with these drugs for pain, but you instead choose to medicate yourself with over the counter medications, you should take careful heed of this warning.  The AHA is recommending that you not take these drugs if you might have heart problems.  The AHA is recommending that you try conservative care first, and this is best done in the form of chiropractic.

With a proven track record for back relief and neck pain relief, chiropractic care is a safe alternative to NSAIDs, and fits within the AHA guides nicely.

Todd Lloyd, DC
Chiropractor in St. George.