Some of the most popular over-the-counter medications can actually put your health at risk, as one heart specialist has outlined the dangers in a new warning for people taking Omeprazole or Ibuprofen.
Many people incorrectly believe that if a drug or form of medication is easy to access then it's completely safe to consume, yet pretty much any treatment of this kind that you can take has risks and can damage your health if you take it in the wrong way or for over the intended period.
While these risks aren't quite as extreme as incorrect claims from President Donald Trump might have you believing in relation to a link between Tylenol and autism which has repeatedly been proven false, but they are still something to consider next time you opt to take certain drugs or are prescribed them by your doctor.
Chief among these are both Omeprazole and Ibuprofen – two of the most-used forms of medication across the nation but you could be opening yourself up to issues down the line according to one heart specialist.
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Dr Aurelio Rojas has explained on his popular Instagram page that people must be wary when taking certain painkillers like the aforementioned pair, issuing a warning in addition for certain nasal decongestants and antidepressants.
He claims that these medications could be 'sabotaging your health without your knowledge', adding that he's "not talking about unusual medications — I'm referring to the ones you take on a regular basis. And many people take them without realizing it."
Omeprazole is seemingly a particularly dangerous one in the case of overconsumption, as Dr Rojas warns that you could be putting yourself at risk of the following:
"If you take it regularly, it may alter the absorption of magnesium, iron, and vitamin B12. This affects your energy, your recovery, and the health of your heart."
He also added that "if you take Omeprazole for long periods without proper medical supervision, you may be disrupting your nutrient levels and compromising your performance and heart health," highlighting further issues with excess stomach acid too.
Risks are also prevalent when taking Ibuprofen for long periods of time, especially for those who take them in conjunction with workouts or physical training.
"Taking them before working out can damage your kidneys and increase the risk of a heart attack, especially if you are dehydrated," Dr Rojas illustrates, compounding that "these medications reduce inflammation and pain, but they also affect renal and cardiovascular circulation, especially if you take them before training."
It's definitely something to consider next time you reach for these types of pain relief, as while they might be easy to access, they're by no means safe to take in every scenario and you could be damaging your health in the long-term by doing so.