New Delhi, December 14
Paracetamol included in over-the-counter medicines may increase the risk of diseases related to the digestive system, heart and kidneys in people aged 65 and over. This has been revealed in a new study conducted by the researchers of Nottingham University in Britain. The study is published in the journal Arthritis Care and Research. Commonly used for fever, paracetamol is now also used by doctors to treat joint pain related diseases as it is considered to be more effective, safer and easily available than others. However, some studies have questioned the effectiveness of paracetamol for pain relief, while other studies have shown an increased risk of digestive problems, such as ulcers and bleeding, with long-term use. A study conducted by researchers at the University of Nottingham found that paracetamol use increased the risk of peptic ulcer bleeding by 24 percent and lower gastrointestinal bleeding by 36 percent. According to the study, taking paracetamol can increase the risk of acute kidney disease by 19 percent, the risk of heart attack by 9 percent and the risk of high blood pressure by 7 percent. Lead researcher Weya Zhang, from the University of Nottingham’s School of Medicine, said that paracetamol is recommended as first-line treatment for joint pain due to its supposed safety, but it may have side effects in the elderly. . The researchers studied the health records of 1,80,483 people who were repeatedly given paracetamol to arrive at these results. The researchers then compared the health reports with 4,02,478 people of the same age who had never been given repeated doses of paracetamol. -News-Patiala
