How Painkillers are Affecting Your Health?

February 4 2023

Written by Pankaj Kumar

How Painkillers are Affecting Your Health? - Palak Notes

February 4 2023

Written by Pankaj Kumar

Have you ever used a painkiller to get relief from your aches and pains? Most of us have done this, at one point or another. After all, painkillers are one of the most commonly used medications in the world, offering quick and effective relief from a variety of discomfort.

But have you ever stopped to think about the long-term impact these painkillers may be having on your health?

It's time to pay attention, because the truth is, painkillers can have some serious consequences for our well-being. That's why, in this insightful blog, we'll be taking a closer look at how painkillers are affecting our health, and what we can do to minimize the risks associated with their use.

So, are you ready to discover the truth about painkillers and their impact on your health? Let's dive in!

How do Painkillers Work?

Let us take the example of a headache here.

After taking out the painkillers from the packet, you take a couple of pills and a glass of water. You then put the painkiller tablet in your mouth and swallow it with a sip of water and it does the work for you, relieving the pain and making you headache free.

But do you know how it makes the pain go away?

The way our body and brain communicate is the primary cause of why we experience pain.

When we are in pain, the cells in our brain receive the signal from the spinal cord which helps in identifying the pain.

However, when we take a painkiller tablet, it has two effects: first, it slows down our nervous system, which makes it more challenging for pain signals to reach our brains. [1]

Additionally, painkillers also provide a feeling of extreme happiness and relaxation, so you don't experience any of the pain you were previously experiencing.

Side Effects of Painkillers

When you use a painkiller longer or more frequently, you are preventing your body from naturally reducing pain. These medications reduce your body's capacity to relieve pain naturally by tricking your brain into believing it needs the painkiller to feel good.

The side effects of painkillers go beyond your body's natural ability to control pain. In reality, the effects of addiction and dependence on painkillers can spread throughout your entire body.

Liver

The painkillers you take are processed and broken down by your liver. When you begin using painkillers frequently, your liver begins to store the toxins left by these medicines, which causes serious and potentially fatal liver damage. [2]

Heart

Painkillers may provide temporary relief from discomfort, but they might be harmful to your heart health. Painkillers affect blood pressure, causing it to rise. If taken in large doses, commonly prescribed pain relievers such as ibuprofen increase the risk of suffering a heart attack during the first month.

Stomach

Even after a day or two of taking painkillers, stomach and intestinal problems can occur. Misuse of pain relievers can result in constipation, bloating, abdominal discomfort, and hemorrhoids.

Depression

Long-term painkiller use raises the risk of depression. Individuals who take painkillers for at least 180 days are 53% more likely to suffer from depression than those who use them for a shorter amount of time. [3]

Kidney

The use of painkillers puts an excessive burden on the kidneys, which can result in kidney damage. The destruction of muscle and tissue that occurs as a result of painkillers raises the risk of kidney problems.

Brain Health

Long-term painkiller usage has been proven to harm brain cells responsible for learning, remembering, and intelligence. Painkiller usage can decrease the brain's blood flow over time, resulting in short-term memory loss.

Long-term painkiller use causes the brain to adapt to the presence of painkillers and stop developing its own hormones and chemicals that control pain and pleasure.

The brain eventually starts to rely on painkillers to manufacture these chemicals, known as neurotransmitters. When patients stop taking painkillers suddenly, their brain is unable to manufacture neurotransmitters in sufficient quantities to manage the pain, rewards, and joy on their own. [4]

Common Misconceptions About Painkillers

Painkillers can Fix Pain

Many people assume they must use painkillers for a long period of time or continue to treat health issues that cause pain. However, painkillers simply block and cover pain sensations from reaching the brain; they do not treat the underlying causes of pain.

For example some painkillers prevent injured or damaged cells from producing and releasing a type of chemical called prostaglandin. Prostaglandin is a chemical which is produced at the place of an injury or pain in the body.

When the cells do not release this chemical, the brain does not receive the pain message as quickly or clearly. So, as long as the cells aren't releasing the chemical, your pain will go away or become less severe.

In order to treat the underlying causes or to fix pain, you will have to make lifestyle changes.

Higher Painkiller Doses Are More Powerful

Some people who take painkillers will double the recommended dosage or take them more frequently than recommended because they believe that doing so will help them manage their pain better.

However, taking bigger amounts of painkillers raises one's risk of resistance and tolerance towards pain. Increasing your dose to overcome your pain tolerance is a major contributor to the growth of addiction and overdose. An overdose can lead to serious issues like coma or even death in some scenarios.

What is the alternative to Painkillers?

Turmeric is the ingredient that gives curry its distinct yellow color and flavor. It contains the antioxidant curcumin, which helps keep the body safe from cell damage.

It has also been extensively researched for its ability to relieve edema and inflammation. [5]

Though turmeric is most usually used as a spice, it is also available as a supplement and is sometimes combined with black pepper extract to improve absorption.

You must be thinking that you will start to consume a lot of turmeric in your meals from now on.

However, the reality is that turmeric only contains 2% of curcumin which is very less for your body. That is why it is important that you opt for a curcumin supplement instead.

Palak Notes Complete Turmeric Matrix contains Curcumin extract in high dosage with 10x absorbability.