Your Hearing Loss may be a Result of Common Painkillers

Lisa Garber

Women taking household painkillers like ibuprofin and acetaminophen (found in many pain relievers) may experience hearing loss over time, according to researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

Taking Common Painkillers may = Hearing Loss

The researchers began their study in 1995, examining 62,261 female subjects, all under 50 years of age. By 2009, women experiencing reduced hearing capability numbered 10,012. Statistics are as follows:

• Women on ibuprofen 2-3 days weekly: 13 percent hearing loss by 2009
• Women on ibuprofen 4-5 days weekly: 21 percent hearing loss by 2009
• Women on ibuprofen 6+ days weekly: 24 percent hearing loss by 2009

Women on acetaminophen showed similar results, though aspirin did not seem to result in hearing loss in this research.

Males Affected by Painkillers

Women are not alone in the risk. French, Finnish, and Danish scientists found that taking more than even one “mild painkiller” at a time during pregnancy could affect an unborn male child by increasing its risk of undescended testicles by 7 times. Cited “mild” painkillers include ibuprofen, aspirin, and paracetamol. Taking more than one painkiller at a time in the second trimester more than doubled the risk to 16-fold.

NSAIDS and Hearing Loss

Dr. Sharon Curhan, author of the study on hearing loss, says that painkillers, while found in most family medicine cabinets, are not as benign as we think. “Possible mechanisms might be that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) may reduce blood flow to the cochlea—the hearing organ—and impair its function.” She added, “Acetaminophen may deplete factors that protect the cochlea from damage.”
The smart option would be to avoid these painkillers altogether and turn to natural solutions. Since headaches are a major reason for common painkiller use, you could Acupuncture is try varioushome remedies for headaches. Another option for pain would be acupuncture, or various natural foods that could target the core reason for your pain. But to possibly counteract the negative damage caused by NSAIDS, you could actually try consuming some licorice and experiences the various licorice benefits.

Painkillers more Dangerous than Illegal Drugs

Painkillers pack a heftier punch than most people know. The punch is enough, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to rack up more deaths than cocaine and heroincombined, as well as traffic accident fatalities.

Aspirin alone has been tied to:

• Sight problems and blindness
• A two-fold increase in hemorrhagic brain strokes
• Intestinal injury and bleeding

Think twice before turning to your medicine cabinet.

Additional Sources:
Fox News
The Telegraph
PubMed

Explore More:

• Hearing Loss Reported with Viagra Use
• Hearing Loss in Teens Linked to Secondhand Smoke
• Painkillers Could ‘Increase Risk 16-fold’ of Male Reproductive Disorder
• Many Consumers Unaware of What’s in Over-the-Counter Painkillers
• More Deaths from Pharmaceutical Painkillers than Cocaine and Heroin Combined
• Natural Care Beats Painkillers in Neck Pain Relief

This article first appeared at Natural Society, an excellent resource for health news and vaccine information. 

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