A recent research carried out by the researchers from the Aarhus University hospital has claimed that the use of common painkillers such as ibuprofen and aspirin can raise the risk of an irregular heartbeat.
The researchers have also found that the use of painkillers can also elevate the risk of heart attacks and stroke.
To evaluate the impact of painkillers on heart, researchers conducted a study on 32,602 patients who were diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AF) for the first time between 1999 and 2008. Each participant involved the study was compared with 10 age and gender-matched patients, who were randomly selected from the population.
The patients involved in the study were classified as current or recent non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID). The results of the study revealed that new NSAIDs users had a 40% increased risk of irregular heart beat as compared to 70% risk for new COX-2 inhibitor users.
Researchers have advised the patients to cut down their intake of painkillers as AF causes irregular and rapid heartbeats which can lead to palpitations, breathlessness, dizziness, angina and the development of blood clots. The condition can also give rise to stroke, heart failure and death in long run.