Taking ibuprofen for colds ‘triples your risk of a heart attack’

Many of us reach for the tablets without even thinking at the first sign of a cold or flu – but over-the-counter painkiller ibuprofen carries a hidden risk.

If you take the remedy during a bout of flu or a chest infection, it actually triples the risk of a heart attack.

The research is based on 10,000 patients who had been hospitalised after heart attacks, over seven years in Taiwan.

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Using NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflamatory drugs) such as ibuprofen during a respiratory infection was associated with a 2.7-fold increased risk of heart attack – rising to 7.2-fold when the painkillers were administered via a drip in hospital.

‘Physicians should be aware that the use of NSAIDs during an acute respiratory infection might further increase the risk of a heart attack,’ said study author Cheng-Chung Fang, of National Taiwan University Hospital.

The British Heart Foundation said last year, ‘These drugs are already well-known to be linked to heart failure, heart attacks and strokes. Most doctors already avoid prescribing them to people with these issues.’