The Dangers Of NSAID Use & Its Impact On Gut Health in Spokane Valley WA

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used to alleviate pain and reduce inflammation. As a chiropractor in Spokane Valley WA people come into our office daily taking NSAIDs to help relieve their back pain or headaches. Since they are often available over-the-counter and so accessible many people assume they are safe. However, while NSAIDs can sometimes provide relief, there is a growing body of evidence suggesting that their long-term and frequent use can have adverse effects on gut health. In this article, we will explore the dangers of NSAID use and their impact on gut health, drawing on peer-reviewed studies to shed light on this important health concern.

What Are Some Dangers Of NSAID In Spokane Valley WA

1. Increased Risk of Gastrointestinal Bleeding: One potential area of concern is the clear link between NSAID use and an increased risk of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. NSAIDs work by inhibiting the production of prostaglandins, which are responsible for protecting the stomach lining. When these protective mechanisms are compromised, the risk of gastric ulcers and bleeding increases significantly.

   One study published in the American Journal of Medicine (Lanas et al., 2009) found that regular use of NSAIDs doubled the risk of GI bleeding, with the risk increasing even further in individuals over the age of 75. This demonstrates that NSAIDs can have severe consequences on gut health, especially in older populations.

2. Disruption of Gut Microbiome: The human digestive tract is home to a complex ecosystem of bacteria, known as the gut microbiome, which plays a crucial role in digestion, immune function, mood, behavior, hormone balance, and overall health. More and more research such as a study published in the journal PLOS ONE (Rogers et al., 2016), suggests that NSAID use can disrupt the balance of bacteria in the gut leading to a condition called dysbiosis.

   Dysbiosis, an imbalance in gut bacteria, has been linked to a variety of health problems, including inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), ulcerative colitis (UC) and even metabolic disorders. This disruption can have long-lasting effects on gut health and overall well-being.

3. Gut Permeability and Leaky Gut Syndrome: Another potential problem resulting from regular NSAID usage is damage to gut lining resulting in increased gut permeability or what is called leaky gut syndrome. A study published in the journal Gut (Somasundaram et al., 1997) found that NSAIDs can impair the gut's ability to maintain its barrier function, potentially allowing harmful substances to enter the bloodstream. When harmful substances from the gut are able to get into the blood stream the immune system will be activated which can result in chronic inflammation and the prolonged immune response leading to autoimmune problems.

Conclusion

While NSAIDs may provide some relief from pain and inflammation, it is essential to recognize the potential dangers associated with their long-term and frequent use. Studies have consistently shown that NSAIDs can increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, disrupt the gut microbiome, elevate the risk of inflammatory bowel diseases, and compromise gut barrier function, leading to leaky gut syndrome.

As a chiropractor in Spokane Valley, our focus is on finding and correcting the cause of people’s pain rather than masking the symptoms with medications like NSAIDs, which as you have just learned can create a host of other health problems with regular, prolonged usage. If you are struggling with headaches, pain in your joints or spine and you are looking for an alternative to taking medications regularly then seeing a corrective chiropractor like our office is Spokane Valley, WA would be a great first step to finding the cause of the pain and developing a plan to help you heal naturally and while reducing your NSAID consumption.

References:

1. Lanas, A., García-Rodríguez, L. A., Arroyo, M. T., Gomollón, F., Feu, F., & González-Pérez, A. (2009). Risk of upper gastrointestinal ulcer bleeding associated with selective cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitors, traditional non-aspirin non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, aspirin, and combinations. The American Journal of Medicine, 122(5), 456-463.
2. Rogers, M. A. M., Aronoff, D. M. (2016). The influence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on the gut microbiome. PLOS ONE, 11(7), e0155375.
3. Somasundaram, S., Sigthorsson, G., Simpson, R. J., Watts, J., Jacob, M., & Tavares, I. A. (1997). Uncoupling of intestinal mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and inhibition of cyclooxygenase are required for the development of NSAID-enteropathy in the rat. Gut, 40(2), 234-239.