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Author: Admin | 2025-04-28
I’ve heard taking ibuprofen regularly could have consequences for my health. Is that true?You should avoid taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs — such as ibuprofen, naproxen and aspirin — whenever possible. If you do need to take them, use the smallest dose for the shortest time feasible.That’s my advice for you as a gastroenterologist, and it’s something I’m very mindful of doing myself.NSAIDs can seem great for treating pain in the short term. They comprise a group of drugs that inhibit the production of prostaglandins, which serve a variety of purposes in the body — including contracting the uterus during menses and regulating blood flow in our vessels.I don’t get too concerned if my patients take one or two doses every now and then. But through regular use, such as several times a month or more, NSAIDs are well-known to increase intestinal permeability. In other words, NSAIDs can damage the lining of our guts.That’s because NSAIDs reduce the blood flow in the tiny vessels feeding our guts and disrupt the intestinal cells forming a barrier between the outside world and your insides. This has been proved over and over again through decades of research.So what should you do instead?Many people live with conditions like migraines, chronic back pain or bad period cramps and take NSAIDs on a regular basis to treat their symptoms. If that’s you, I’d advise you have a chat with your physician and explore NSAID alternatives. Because NSAIDs do work well — and are cheap and
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