Painkiller Naproxen May Increase Risk of Heart Problems in Older Women - East Idaho News
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Painkiller Naproxen May Increase Risk of Heart Problems in Older Women

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Thinkstock 070814 Painkiller?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1404871601972iStockphoto/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — New research found that a popular painkiller may cause damage to the hearts of older women who use it regularly.

The study, published in the journal Circulation, looked at data from 160,000 postmenopausal women over the age of 50. Researchers learned that those women who regularly used naproxen for aches and pains had a 22 percent increased risk of heart attack of stroke. Researchers said that women who took the painkiller at least twice per week were considered regular users.

Ibuprofen, researchers say, was not linked to increased cardiovascular risk.

The study was conducted using 11 years of data from the Women’s Health Initiative.


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