ALERT: The Dangers of Widely Used Drugs

Your over-the-counter anti-inflammatory pain medications may not just kill pain -- they may kill you. More than 16,500 people die each year and 103,000 are hospitalized for serious complications caused by pain relievers known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), according to the National Consumers League (NCL). "People mistakenly assume that if a prescription is not required for a medication that is sold in a drugstore or a supermarket, then it must be safe," NCL president Linda Golodner announced in a news release dated 10/02. The National Consumers League has started a campaign to educate the estimated 30 million Americans who use NSAIDs about the possible dangers of the products. As part of the campaign launch, the NCL released results of national survey of people who use NSAIDs. The survey found that 64 percent of the survey respondents are unconcerned about possible serious side effects caused by NSAIDs, including stomach bleeding or ulcers. Nearly 30 percent of the respondents said they don't usually read instructions on the labels because they think they already know what to take. The NCL campaign to educate people about the dangers of over-the-counter painkillers will include public service announcements and consumer education. A new brochure about the painkillers is available at the following website: www.nclnet.org For more information about over the counter drugs, go to the government website: www.fda.gov/cder/otc The obvious conclusion: drugs do not have to be illegal or prescription to be dangerous!

The Bottom Line

Today's HealthTip points to even the small things that can adversely affect your health. Equally true are the small things that can positively promote your health and your family's health. Small things like a regular chiropractic adjustments are something to be thankful for to be sure!