Scientists have today revealed figures exposing the dangers of taking ibuprofen and other popular painkillers.
Taiwanese researchers calculated the exact risk of heart attack or stroke from taking the tablets after assessing celecoxib, mefenamic acid, diclofenac, naproxen and ibuprofen.
The experts found that all five medicines could affect the heart within four weeks, with some more dangerous than others.
Using data from 56,000 adults with high blood pressure, they put together the odds of suffering a major cardiovascular event after consuming the painkillers.
On average, one in 330 adults who take ibuprofen are hit with a heart attack or stroke in four weeks.
The drug costs as little as 2p a tablet, is taken by millions worldwide and can be bought in corner shops across the UK.
The exact risk of having a heart attack or stroke because of common painkillers has beenm calculated by Taiwanese sceintists.
Researchers assessed the dangers of taking popular brands like ibuprofen to dimish discomfort.
The most dangerous drug of the five assessed was celecoxib, which will lead to one in 105 adults suffering a heart attack or stroke.
Mefanamic acid posed the least threat, with just one in 394 users expected to experience a stroke or heart attack.
Another controversial contender in diclofenac, which was banned from over-the-counter sale in the UK because of the its heart dangers.
The drug would cause cardiovascular events in one in 245 people four weeks after consumption, the study found.
The findings were published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and comes after an array of evidence emerged in recent years linking widely taken drugs to cardiac arrest and heart attack.
Nearly 56,000 adults with the condition hypertension – high blood pressure – were monitored by researchers at National Yang-Ming University, Taipei.
These people had heightened risk of experiences dangerous side effects of the painkillers.
Despite the gap between the figures, lead scientist Dr Yaa-Hui Dong said there are no significant difference between the painkillers.
Dr Chia-Hsuin Chang, co-author of the study, said: “Our results provide important information about the comparative safety of alternative NSAID use in patients with hypertension in real-world settings.
“Under low-to-moderate daily dose and a short-term treatment period, most commonly used NSAIDs have similar cardiovascular safety profiles.”
