Studies have revealed that taking anti-inflammatory drugs poses health risks

New studies expand knowledge about the importance of inflammation in the body’s defenseTissue repair, brain function and many other vital processes such as stadium Show on Saturday, also sparked a discussion about the dangers of drug abuse.

“Excessive use of anti-inflammatories can have two negative consequences. In addition to disturbing the balance (maintaining the physiological balance of the organism)It can harm the defense against infection and even against some types of tumors,” said immunologist Ruslan Medjetov, a professor at Yale University (USA), to stadium. In a special issue on the role of inflammation recently published by the magazine to knowIt suggests an extended look at the topic.

According to Medgitov, recent studies have shown that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as acetylsalicylic acid and ibuprofen) can cause ulcers in the intestines and even reduce the positive effect of physical exercise, if used in high doses and for long periods. Self-medication, a common practice in Brazil, complicates the problem.

In January of this year, 26 million boxes of anti-inflammatory drugs were sold in pharmacies across the country. If each consumer took one box home, the amount sold this month would be enough to reach 12% of the Brazilian population. Between 2020 and 2021, sales increased by 3%: from 217 million to 224 million boxes.

The survey was carried out upon request stadium By consulting firm IQVIA, a company that monitors information from the pharmaceutical sector, it considers only the category of anti-inflammatory drugs used in the treatment of the musculoskeletal system, such as leg, arm, shoulder, hip and spine pain, among others.

Pains of this kind are well known in the dance world. Julia Pontes dos Santos, 19, from São Paulo trained in professional classical ballet, she put on her first shoes at age two and spent her childhood rehearsing in the bar and practicing choreography for hours on end.

She was under 12 years old when she sustained a spinal injury. “I took anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxants, and opioids to avoid physical therapy and keep dancing,” Julia says. “Sometimes I was stuck in bed for two days. I started using these remedies like water. My mom hid the boxes, but I took them without her knowing.”

Like many girls wanting to take on a tough lineup of major dance companies, Júlia wanted to be discovered in São Miguel Paulista, east of São Paulo, and shine abroad. More mature, she studies physical therapy and continues to do four hours of dancing (classical ballet, heel dancing and belly dancing) a day, three times a week. Júlia intends to work with the physical preparation of the dancers. “I didn’t give up on my dream, but I opened my head.”

To pursue this new path, she drew inspiration from the example of Tamers Reese, a personal trainer who specializes in physical training for dancers. She graduated in physical education from the Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp) and is a professional dancer, creating an online injury prevention program. He advises major dance companies and is familiar with the culture of drug abuse.

Dancers think it’s normal to feel pain and take anti-inflammatories on their own. One refers to the treatments for the other. I lived it myself and made this mistake,” he says. “While they think it is weak to show that they are not feeling well, many teachers insist that long hours of dancing are enough to prepare the body to carry out the movements,” says Thammers. Not right. He adds that dancers need muscle work to prevent injuries, just like soccer players and other athletes.

Ana Caetano Faria, president of the Brazilian Society of Immunology, points out that anti-inflammatories are very important when used at the right time. In cases where a person cannot cope with a worsening infection or inflammation, in autoimmune or allergic diseases. “A person needs this drug, but it must be done with great care so as not to inhibit other beneficial substances,” he said.

For immunologist Luis Vicente Rizzo, MD, supervisor of research at Israel Albert Einstein Hospital, taking anti-inflammatories compromises the static balance. “It is one of the most widely consumed classes of drugs in Brazil and in the world, but about 10% of people have adverse reactions,” he says.

He explains that in most cases, this is because our receptors understand that the drug is an attempt to block a natural process. “Of course, anti-inflammatories are important in cases where, for example, a person has rheumatoid arthritis that needs to be controlled, but it’s not an over-the-counter drug, as many do.”