Pain relievers are not entirely harmless to the kidneys
Headaches, muscle pain after exercise, back pain, joint pain or menstrual pain are common conditions in daily life. Therefore, pain relievers have become a familiar choice for many people. However, what few people pay attention to is that the kidneys have to work very hard to process and eliminate the active ingredients in these drugs.
According to Dr. P Vikranth Reddy - Clinical Director and Senior Consultant of Nephrology at CARE Banjara Hills Hospital, India - kidneys need to be supplied with stable blood to filter waste, maintain water and electrolyte balance in the body. Some common pain relievers, especially non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, can reduce blood flow to the kidneys if used regularly or improperly.
For healthy people, using pain relievers for a short time and in the correct dose usually does not cause significant effects. However, the risk begins to appear when using the drug occasionally becomes a long-term habit.
Dr. Reddy said that many people initially only take a few pills per month to reduce headaches or body aches. Over time, the frequency of use increases several times per week without them realizing it. Some people even actively take medicine before exercising vigorously or traveling to prevent pain. Many cases use many types of over-the-counter drugs with similar ingredients at the same time, increasing the risk of harm to the kidneys.
Increased risk when the body is dehydrated
Kidneys are especially easily damaged when the body is dehydrated. This often happens on hot sunny days, after high-intensity exercise, when you have diarrhea, vomiting, or simply do not drink enough water for a long time.
Dr. Reddy warns that using pain relievers at times of dehydration can further reduce blood flow to the kidneys, causing this organ to overwork.
What is worrying is that kidney damage often occurs silently. In the early stages, patients almost have no abnormal signs. Only when kidney function is significantly reduced do symptoms such as swelling of limbs, prolonged fatigue, nausea, decreased urine output or shortness of breath appear.
People with diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, chronic kidney disease, the elderly or people who have to take pain relievers for a long time are at higher risk.
Experts also note that many people are tending to self-treat recurrent pain without finding the root cause. Continuous use of pain relievers for months to control headaches, joint pain, or back pain can cause the risk of kidney damage to accumulate over time.
Dr. Reddy recommends that people pay attention to the frequency of using pain relievers. If taking medicine becomes a weekly habit, patients should see a doctor to determine the cause of pain. In addition, they need to drink enough water, avoid arbitrarily combining many types of medication, and have regular kidney function checks if they are at high risk.
