Painkillers relieve pain, help reduce inflammation, and improve the quality of life for people with chronic pain. However, if self-medicating, exceeding dosages, and taking analgesics uncontrollably for extended periods, one can seriously harm oneself.
Hormonal Balance Will Be Disrupted
Frequent use of analgesics affects hormone production, including cortisol, which is involved in stress responses. This can lead to adrenal dysfunction, changes in metabolism, and fluctuations in blood sugar levels.
Long-term abuse of painkillers also impacts the menstrual cycle. The shifts are not always immediately noticeable, but over time they can cause chronic fatigue, decreased libido, and a general decline in well-being.
Stomach Health Will Suffer
Frequent use of painkillers can cause gastritis and peptic ulcers. The problem is that these medications block the production of prostaglandins, which protect the stomach lining, thereby thinning its natural "armor." As a result, acid damages the walls, leading to pain, heartburn, and sometimes even bleeding.
The difficulty lies in the fact that complications often develop unnoticed, and a person only realizes them when dangerous symptoms appear: black stools, vomiting blood, or sharp abdominal pain. All these issues are a reason to see a doctor immediately.
Liver Load Will Increase
Many painkillers, especially paracetamol and its analogs, are metabolized in the liver. If taken regularly, the organ's cells will begin to work at their limit. Consequently, the risk of hepatocyte damage and the development of toxic hepatitis will increase. In the early stages, only fatigue and decreased appetite are felt, but later cirrhosis or liver failure may develop. It is especially dangerous to combine analgesics with alcohol, as this sharply increases the toxic effect.
Cognitive Functions Will Decline
Regularly suppressing pain signals with pills affects the nervous system and brain function. Gradually, a person's attention decreases, short-term memory worsens, and a "foggy head" appears. This is related both to the direct action of the medications and to the disruption of natural pain regulation, which plays an important role in the functioning of neural circuits.
Risk of Stroke and Heart Attack Will Increase
Some analgesics affect the vascular system: they raise blood pressure, alter blood clotting, and create a tendency for thrombosis. With prolonged use of such medications, the likelihood of cardiovascular complications increases several times. This is especially relevant for people over 40 and those who already have heart or vascular problems.
Chronic Headache Will Develop
Painkillers, if taken daily, instead of alleviating headaches, begin to provoke them. This syndrome is called medication-overuse headache: a person takes more and more pills, but the pain only intensifies and becomes chronic. Gradually, attacks occur more frequently, and the interval without pain shortens. Ultimately, the familiar remedy turns into a source of a new problem, which can only be resolved under a specialist's supervision.
Kidney Function Will Deteriorate
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can negatively affect the kidneys. The issue is that the pills reduce blood flow in the kidney tissue, impairing its filtration function. Over time, this can lead to fluid retention in the body, swelling, increased blood pressure, and even chronic kidney failure. In advanced cases, the kidneys lose the ability to eliminate toxins and metabolic waste.
Risk of Overdose Will Increase
Overdose can occur unexpectedly, even if the daily dose of painkillers seems "normal." Symptoms of overdose include nausea, vomiting, severe abdominal pain, and loss of consciousness. In severe cases, seizures, liver or kidney damage may occur. It is particularly dangerous to combine painkillers with alcohol or other medications that enhance the toxic effect.
Drug Dependence Will Develop
The body gradually becomes accustomed to the action of painkillers, so larger doses are required to achieve noticeable effects, trapping the person in a vicious cycle. In addition to physical dependence, psychological dependence develops: the feeling that it is impossible to cope with pain or even live comfortably without a pill. Ultimately, the medication becomes part of a daily ritual, and its withdrawal causes anxiety, irritability, and increased pain sensations.
Immunity Will Weaken
Some painkillers, when used continuously, reduce the body's ability to resist infections. A person starts to catch colds more often, endures viral illnesses more severely, and takes longer to recover. Additionally, painkillers mask the symptoms of inflammatory processes, so some diseases may develop unnoticed and only be detected at later stages.
Cardiovascular System Function Will Be Disrupted
Due to regular use of painkillers, the balance of substances regulating vascular tone may change. This will lead to increased blood pressure and fluid retention in the body. As a result, the heart will face additional strain, and the risk of heart failure will increase. People with hypertension should be especially cautious.
