Anyone who relies on ibuprofen, naproxen or ordinary-strength aspirin for pain or arthritis has been advised to be cautious, after an NHS doctor raised concerns about the risks of long-term use. Dr Mark Porter, a GP known for his appearances on The One Show, said many people do not realise these medicines can lead to stomach ulcers and internal bleeding.

He noted that bleeding in the stomach or upper gut is a serious medical emergency. An audit led by researchers at the University of Oxford shows that this type of bleeding leads to at least 60,000 hospital admissions each year, and about one in ten patients does not survive to return home.

NHS Doctors Issue Warning for Anyone Using Ibuprofen, Naproxen or Aspirin

Dr Porter referenced a report published in the journal Gut, which compared outcomes from 2007 and 2022. The data revealed how many people who suffered gut bleeds were taking medicines, both prescribed and over the counter, that could trigger or worsen the problem.

As per Times,, he said that nearly half of the 5,141 patients analysed in the audit had been taking some type of drug that increases the chance of bleeding. These included low-dose aspirin, clopidogrel and anticoagulants such as warfarin and apixaban. In addition, one in fourteen patients had been using a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) like ibuprofen, naproxen or normal-dose aspirin, which are commonly used to relieve pain and treat arthritis.

Why NSAIDs Can Be More Dangerous Than People Realise

Dr Porter said many people who take low-dose aspirin or blood thinners to lower the risk of stroke, heart attack or blood clots know that these medicines carry a bleeding risk. The concern is that far fewer people understand that NSAIDs can be just as harmful for some individuals. According to him, NSAIDs are responsible for about a third of all NHS hospital admissions linked to adverse drug reactions. These admissions take up roughly one in five hospital beds. Beyond gut bleeding, NSAIDs can also raise the chance of heart attacks, strokes and kidney problems.

Stomach Symptoms Can Worsen With Long-Term Use

People who already struggle with heartburn or indigestion often notice that occasional ibuprofen or aspirin makes their symptoms worse. Dr Porter explained that, when taken frequently or over long periods, these medicines can do much more damage. Their effect on prostaglandins, which helps ease pain, also weakens the stomach’s natural defences against its own acids. This can lead to irritation, ulcers, bleeding and in some cases, a perforation.

He added that although the overall risk for most people is small, doctors have become more aware of these dangers. As a result, NSAID use has fallen in many countries over the past 25 years. Even so, these drugs are still widely prescribed, especially for older adults. Some estimates suggest that nearly one in five people over 65 has taken at least one course in the past year.

Why Protective Medicines Do Not Remove All Risks

Doctors often prescribe antacid medicines such as omeprazole alongside stronger NSAIDs like naproxen to help protect the stomach. Dr Porter clarified that these medicines lower the risk of bleeding, but they do not remove it fully. He said certain groups should be particularly careful.

These include people on low-dose aspirin or similar drugs like clopidogrel, anyone taking anticoagulants such as warfarin or apixaban, those who often have indigestion or heartburn, anyone with a history of stomach or duodenal ulcers, people living with heart failure or chronic kidney disease, and adults over 65 who are not taking stomach-protective medication.

Aspirin Should Not Be Taken Casually

Dr Porter added that one painkiller should never be taken without a doctor’s instruction. He said he would avoid using aspirin for day-to-day discomfort unless advised by a medical professional. For issues such as a hangover, a headache or a sore knee, paracetamol is usually safer than ibuprofen, although it may not offer the same level of relief. An occasional NSAID is unlikely to cause harm for most people, as long as they are not in a high-risk group. However, anyone who needs pain relief often, whether daily or several times a week, should speak to their GP to decide on a safer plan.

Dr Porter offered one final piece of advice. While vomiting blood is an obvious emergency, an earlier sign of slow bleeding in the upper gut can be easy to miss. Black, tar-like stools, known as melena, should never be ignored. Anyone who notices this should seek medical help without delay.

Alzheimer’s disease is normally seen as a disease of old age, something that starts when memory starts to fail in the 70s or 80s. But science has a totally different narrative. Alzheimer’s is not something you ‘catch’ suddenly in old age. It’s a sluggish, degenerative disorder that develops slowly over decades. When a person begins to forget names, ask the same questions, or have trouble with everyday chores, there may have been damage to the brain for years.

This is why neuroprotection should start much earlier, ideally in our 30s and 40s.

Today, most patients only see the neurologist when the symptoms are obvious. Unfortunately, at this stage the disease process has already progressed and therapy options are limited. Doctors and health professionals need to be more open about prevention, to teach younger folks that brain health is established well before retirement age.

Our modern lifestyle is a silent neurological risk. A busy life is making chronic stress, poor sleep, physical inactivity, bad diets and extended hours of sitting normal. But these common activities may be quietly contributing to inflammation that’s damaging blood arteries and brain cells over time. Studies increasingly connect mid-life problems like obesity, diabetes, hypertension and sleep difficulties to a greater risk of dementia in later life.

Sleep is particularly important for removing such toxic substances from the brain. Constant stress boosts cortisol levels, which may interfere with memory areas. A sedentary lifestyle lowers the blood supply to the brain and undermines cognitive resiliency. Something that seems inconsequential today may be important decades from now.

The good news is that prevention is effective. Regular exercise, good sleep, management of stress, social activity, mental stimulation and regular health checks can all help protect the brain. Neuroprotection is not about fear; it’s about awareness and action.

What we decide to do in our 30s and 40s is not just about our careers or lifestyles; it’s about the health of our brains in our 70s and 80s. We need to change the conversation around Alzheimer’s from late-stage therapy to early-life prevention.

By Dr. Neha Pandita, Senior Consultant Neurology, Fortis Noida

From upscale salons to local aesthetic clinics, a quick IV infusion of glutathione is being offered for skin brightening and anti-ageing. But these increasingly popular cosmetic drips may neither be legal nor safe and may carry several health risks, doctors have warned.

Glutathione is an unapproved therapy that involves risks at many levels, including toxins. As per the US FDA, injectable/IV glutathione is not FDA-approved as a safe compounded sterile injectable, carrying high risks of contamination and severe adverse reactions.

Warning Against Glutathione IV Drips

In a social media post on X, noted hepatologist Dr Cyriac Abby Philips called out an advertisement for a clinic offering glutathione IV drips, promising skin whitening.

He warned people to “absolutely” avoid it, as the effects on skin may be temporary but carry long-term health risks from kidney to liver dysfunction, and potentially fatal skin reactions.

“Because the body continuously produces melanin, any potential lightening effect is temporary. Once the extreme systemic doses are stopped, the skin's natural pigmentation returns,” Dr Abby said.

Further, he also stated that the procedure is mostly offered by "cosmetologists" or commercialized dermatology clinic chains. As cosmetology is not a recognized medical degree or a protected medical title under the National Medical Commission in India, people claiming to be "cosmetologist" is not really a medical practitioner, but merely certified "coaches" or "wellness experts".

Poor Evidence Supporting IV Glutathione

The expert, better known as “LiverDoc” also noted that the clinical evidence supporting IV glutathione is exceptionally poor.

“The administration of IV glutathione in dermatology and cosmetology clinics is a lucrative marketing trend that operates outside the bounds of evidence-based medicine”.

“Marketing claims rely heavily on anecdotal reports and a single, widely criticized trial that suffered from a tiny sample size, poor study design, and unreliable evaluations,” he added.

FDA Warning Over Glutathione IV Treatments

“Because IV glutathione is not approved for cosmetic use, the solutions utilized in wellness clinics and med-spas are typically sourced from "compounding pharmacies". This bypasses standard pharmaceutical manufacturing regulations, introducing severe risks”.

Dr. Abby explained that a "compounded drug" is a custom medication created by a pharmacist or physician who combines, mixes, or alters ingredients on their own.

He cited how in August 2026, the US FDA issued an urgent safety warning after dozens of patients experienced potentially fatal infection (sepsis)-like symptoms — including fever, chills, low blood pressure, and hospitalization — following glutathione IV treatments.

“Clinics were found to be compounding IV drips using dietary-supplement-grade powder, which contained dangerously high levels of bacterial endotoxins. Administering high doses has been linked to severe adverse effects, including anaphylaxis, acute kidney and liver dysfunction, and potentially fatal skin reactions like Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis (SJS and TEN),” Dr Abby said.

India Tightens Rules Around Injectable Cosmetics

In May 2026, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) tightened rules around cosmetic use.

In a new public notice issued, the CDSCO stated that cosmetic products that come in injectable form do not fall under the definition of cosmetics under the law. It said that such products are not permitted for use by consumers, professionals, or aesthetic clinics.

Other Potential Health Risks

According to the Philippines FDA, given that glutathione affects the production of melanin — the pigment that gives human skin, hair and eyes their colour — there are theoretical concerns about the long-term skin cancer risk.

Other potential risks include transmission of infectious agents, such as HIV, hepatitis C and B. This is of particular concern when a non-medical practitioner administers this treatment or it is done in a non-sterile facility.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), hernia repair is one of the most important surgical procedures, with published estimates suggesting that around 20 million hernia repairs are performed each year globally. For most patients, recovery is smooth, steady, and uncomplicated. It is one of the most performed surgeries globally, and for most patients, recovery is steady. Mild pain, swelling, and discomfort during the first few weeks are usually part of the healing process and improve with time. However, when a wound refuses to heal, pain continues to worsen, or there is persistent discharge from the surgical site, these symptoms should never be ignored.

Although complications following hernia mesh repair are uncommon, delayed recognition can make treatment far more challenging. One of the more serious complications occurs when the surgical mesh erodes into surrounding organs, particularly the intestine, leading to infection, chronic wounds and, in rare cases, an entero-cutaneous fistula, an abnormal connection between the bowel and the skin.

A recent patient cases highlights why early medical attention is so important. An umbilical hernia surgery performed years ago led to complications for a 32-year-old lady from Bengaluru. What was supposed to be a simple procedure turned out to be a prolonged medical ordeal for the patient. The injury could not be healed completely, and as time went by, the patient developed persistent drainage from the injury site, which made her daily tasks increasingly difficult.

A further assessment revealed that the mesh had eroded into the bowel and caused an entero-cutaneous fistula. At this point, the surgery was going to be much more complicated than a regular hernia repair. This is a particularly challenging case for surgeons, requiring very detailed planning, since there is always a high probability of finding dense scar tissue and adhesions, which made it impossible to properly detach the bowels.

The surgery was done as a complicated laparoscopic revision operation, during which the adhesions were freed; both meshes were removed, and the part of the bowel that was affected by them was recovered, and the abdominal wall structure was restored. The postoperative period went quite well, and the man was relieved of all the discharge, and his intestinal function was restored within a few weeks.

Such cases may be quite rare, but they send a clear message – never neglect prolonged symptoms, thinking that they are just a part of the recovery process. Hernias are easily repaired, but if healing goes slowly, it is always better to do additional tests to avoid complications.

Signs that might arouse concern about the patient’s condition after the hernia surgery:

1. The wound is not healing properly while waiting for the healing process.

2. The wound is continuously oozing secretions.

3. An unexpected increase in pain in contradiction to the healing phase.

4. Body temperature is above normal or other symptoms of infection are present.

5. An unexpected formation or swelling has appeared in the surgical area.

It should also be mentioned that not everyone suffering from pain after the operation faces a serious complication. However, those with ongoing or worsening health conditions should not perform self-treatment and wait for the issues to resolve.

Advances in minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery have made it possible to successfully manage many complex hernia mesh complications while reducing pain, hospital stay, and recovery time. At the same time, successful treatment depends not only on surgical expertise but also on timely diagnosis and appropriate follow-up.

The goal is not to create anxiety around hernia surgery. Mesh repair remains a safe and effective treatment for most patients. The key message is simple: listen to your body. If your recovery process takes much longer than expected, or there is something that appears abnormal, you should consult with a doctor right away. There are instances where timely action prevents complications and allows for a full recovery.

By Dr. Kiran K. J., Senior Consultant, Department of General, Laparoscopy, GI, Bariatric & Robotic Surgery, Apollo Hospitals, Bannerghatta Road, Bengaluru.