AHA Joins Health Coalition to Combat NSAIDs Risks

1/11/2013 3:00 PM EST

The American Heart Association (AHA) is adding its voice to public health efforts to call attention to the potential health risks of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

MedPage Today reports the AHA has joined a new public health coalition, the Alliance for the Rational Use of NSAIDs, which advocates the safe use of these medications, including ibuprofen, (Advil and Motrin), naproxen (Aleve and Naprosyn), and the arthritis drug, celecoxib (Celebrex).

Most consumers are unaware that NSAIDs can harm the kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, and cardiovascular system under certain circumstances, particularly if several NSAIDs are inadvertently taken at once.

MedPage Today reports that about 98 million NSAID prescriptions were filled in 2012 and about 23 million people in the U.S. used over-the-counter NSAIDs on a daily basis. The purpose of the alliance is to reduce the risks associated with NSAIDs.

Other organizations that belong to the Alliance include the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, the American Academy of Physician Assistants, the National Kidney Foundation, the American Chronic Pain Association, and the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, reports MedPage Today.

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