Think twice about your ticker if you regularly pop painkillers such as ibuprofen (Advil and generic) or celecoxib (Celebrex). A major study published this week in the British Medical Journal confirms previous concerns that long-term use of the drugs can lead to heart attacks and strokes.
While all of these painkillers, known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), can be dangerous for the heart, some pose less of a risk than others, according to the study, which looked at 31 trials that included more than 116,000 people. Naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, and generic) appeared to pose the lowest risk of a heart attack, while diclofenac (Voltaren and generic) had the highest risk of cardiovascular death among the NSAIDs currently available in the U.S.
—Steve Mitchell, associate editor, Consumer Reports Health Best Buy Drugs
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