Many of us may have taken ibuprofen, sometimes two pills at once, especially when we are struggling with menstrual cramps. Well, as good these pills may be in treating the pain, they are not recommended for your health, especially if you are someone who consumes it on a daily basis or frequently. Gastroenterologist Trisha Pasricha, MD, writes in The Washington Post about why should you avoid taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, naproxen and aspirin.

What happens when you consume pain killers?

She writes that NSAIDs are great in treating short term pain. They comprise of a group of drugs that inhibit the production of prostaglandins, which serve as a variety of purposes in the body. Some of which also includes contracting the uterus during menses and regulating blood flow in our vessels.

While one to two doses every now and then is okay, following a regular dosage routine, which could range from several times a month, or twice in an hour or so could lead to health risk. NSAIDs are well known to increase intestinal permeability. This means, these painkillers could damage the lining of your gut.

A 2018 review by Ingvar Bjarnason et. al., also writes about how NSAIDs can reduce the blood flow in the tiny vessels that feeds our guts. It can also disrupt the intestinal cells forming a barrier between the outside world and your insides.

What can be done?

While people with conditions like migraines, chronic back pain or bad period cramps can find NSAIDs to be helpful. It is always advisable to have a chat with your physicians to explore NSAID alternatives.

Pasricha suggests acetaminophen.

However, if someone is in dire need of NSAID, her tip is to take the pill right at the start of your symptoms. She says that the drug can do a far better job at stopping things at the source than chasing after all prostaglandins.

Why is it a concern?

NSAIDs are available as over the counter drug, which means people do not need a prescription for it and can make medical decision about them without the guidance of a physician.

A 2018 study published in the Official Journal of the International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology by David W Kaufman, et.al., found that 15% of adult ibuprofen users in the US have exceeded the maximum recommended daily dose. The study also mentions that more than a third of ibuprofen users were taking other NSAIDs, like aspirin and naproxen, while consuming ibuprofen at the same time. Out of these, 61% did not realise that they were using NSAIDs.

Pasricha talks about how it ruptures the gut wall, as she herself has rushed to the hospital in the middle of the night "far more times than" she can count "to perform an emergency endoscopy on someone who was bleeding profusely from an ulcer caused by NSAID".

Another 2009 study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology states that as many as 1 in 4 chronic NSAID users will get an ulcer and about 4% will bleed or rupture through the gut wall.

An older study from 2005 titled A quantitative analysis of NSAID-induced small bowel pathology by capsule enteroscopy, found that as 75 percent of people regularly using NSAIDs develop low-grade inflammation in their small bowels. NSAIDs can also lead to development of fatty liver disease. This happens because your gut lining becomes more permeable, more toxins and bacteria from the outside world enters your liver and leads to inflammation.

A 2011 study titled Haemoglobin decreases in NSAID users over time: an analysis of two large outcome trials, states that as many as 6% of people taking NSAIDs regularly have found their blood count dropping within a few months of starting the medicines, this suggests that this is due to the small, slow amount of bleeding in the gut overtime.

A study of more than 700 individuals found distinct differences in the mix of bacteria in the mouths and lungs of those with severe long COVID.

Published in the European Respiratory Journal, the study found that differences in the lung microbiome were linked to respiratory problems, cognitive difficulties and digestive symptoms associated with long COVID.

The findings may help researchers understand why some people develop long COVID and identify potential treatments, according to the team from the University of Dundee, UK.

"The microbiome is important to maintain health throughout the body, so it is a strong candidate for something that may contribute to long COVID,” said lead author Dr. Daniela Alferes de Lima Headley.

What Did The Study Find?

The observational study included 771 adults who had been hospitalized for COVID-19 between February 2020 and March 2021. Researchers grouped participants according to the severity of their ongoing health problems and symptoms.

The participants had an average age of 57.5 years, and 38.5% were women.

Six months after hospital discharge, researchers collected saliva samples to examine microbes in the mouth and sputum samples to study the lung microbiome. They used DNA sequencing to identify the microbes and analyze their diversity. Participants also completed questionnaires about their symptoms.

The results showed that people with very severe long COVID had distinct differences in their oral and lung microbiomes compared with those who had fewer ongoing symptoms.

Microbiome differences were also associated with:

• • Respiratory problems: Reduced lung function.
  • Cognitive symptoms: Brain fog, memory problems, and difficulty with attention and concentration.
  • Digestive issues: Abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea and loss of appetite.

Bacterial Changes Linked To Inflammation

Further, the changes associated with long COVID symptoms also included an increased abundance of bacteria that produce lactic acid. These changes were also linked to signs of inflammation in participants' blood samples.

James Chalmers, chair of respiratory research at the University of Dundee, said the greatest microbiome changes were found in people with the most severe symptoms five to six months after COVID-19.

"We also found that changes in the airway microbiome were linked not just to lung problems, but also to symptoms like brain fog and gut symptoms, suggesting the lung microbiome could have effects on health more broadly," he added.

However, the researchers do not yet know whether these microbiome differences existed before COVID-19 or developed after infection. The long-term effects of these changes also remain unknown.

Could The Findings Lead To New Treatments?

Chalmers said more research is needed to understand what causes long COVID, which continues to affect many people worldwide.

Because the microbiome can be altered through interventions such as antibiotics and probiotics, understanding its role could help researchers explore potential treatment options.

What Is Long COVID?

Long COVID refers to new, returning or ongoing health problems that persist four or more weeks after the initial COVID-19 infection. Symptoms can last for months or even years.

Common symptoms include fatigue, brain fog, memory problems, difficulty concentrating and slowed thinking.

Research has also suggested that brain inflammation may persist even after the virus is no longer detectable.

For some women with endometriosis, getting a diagnosis is only the beginning of a long struggle to access treatment and navigate management.

In Canada, long waitlists for specialist appointments are pushing patients to consider expensive surgery abroad, highlighting how delays in care can prolong pain and disrupt everyday life.

Noelle Menu, 37, from Calgary, said her symptoms intensified after she stopped taking birth control while trying to conceive at 26.

Years of pain, emergency room visits, surgery and delays in specialist care eventually led her and her husband to seek private treatment in Tijuana, Mexico.

After being told that waiting several years to see a specialist in Canada was possible, Menu said: “We can’t deal with it in Canada.”

The couple used their savings and went into debt to pay for treatment at EndoGlobal in Mexico. The total cost was approximately $35,000, including travel, accommodation and other expenses, according to CBC News.

Her experience highlights the delay in addressing endometriosis that can intensify debilitating symptoms.

What Is Endometriosis And Why Can It Be Difficult To Diagnose?

Endometriosis is a chronic condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside it, potentially affecting the ovaries, bowel, bladder and other areas. The resulting inflammation and scar tissue can cause severe menstrual cramps, persistent pelvic pain, painful sex, bowel or urinary symptoms and difficulties conceiving.

The World Health Organization estimates that endometriosis affects around 10% of reproductive-age women worldwide, or approximately 190 million people.

Diagnosis can be challenging because symptoms vary and may overlap with other conditions. There is no single definitive test that identifies every case. Doctors may use a detailed medical history, pelvic examination, ultrasound or MRI, with surgery sometimes needed to investigate or treat suspected disease.

The WHO estimates that diagnosis commonly takes between four and 12 years, leaving many patients managing symptoms without a clear explanation for prolonged periods.

Also read: Endometriosis: Repurposed Anti-Parasite Drug Shows Promise In Mouse Study

How Do Delays Affect Patients?

For patients with severe disease, waiting for specialist care can mean continuing to live with pain that interferes with work, relationships, sleep and fertility plans.

Another Canadian patient, identified in CBC's report as Papiernik, described discovering that endometriosis had infiltrated her colon after a colonoscopy detected a mass. She was referred for specialist care but faced further waits for an appointment and surgery.

“Living like this for two years was just not an option for me,” she said.

Canada's House of Commons health committee has identified gaps in endometriosis care, while the condition's economic impact includes lost productivity and healthcare costs. The issue is not simply whether treatment exists, but whether patients can access appropriate care before symptoms and complications become harder to manage.

Also read: Urine & Vaginal Samples May Help Detect Womb Cancer: Lancet Study Suggests Less Invasive Way To Triage Patients

Does Surgery Cure Endometriosis?

Surgery can remove endometriosis lesions, adhesions and scar tissue, reducing pain and treating complications. However, it is not a guaranteed cure. Symptoms may persist or return, and treatment decisions depend on disease severity, the organs involved, fertility goals and previous treatment.

Hormonal medicines and pain management can also help control symptoms. Some patients benefit from a combination of medical treatment, surgery and ongoing follow-up.

Travelling abroad may offer faster access to specialist treatment, but it comes with financial costs and other challenges. Patients should consider the surgeon's experience, the facility's standards, the possibility of complications and arrangements for follow-up after returning home.

A routine heart scan helped doctors detect pancreatic cancer in a 72-year-old US woman before it was too late. Vicky Titcomb, a Cape Cod bookstore owner and great-grandmother, underwent the scan at Mass General Brigham in March 2025, before traveling to New York City to visit her son.

Although she felt healthy, the scan revealed an abnormality on her pancreas. Further testing confirmed pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest forms of cancer, CBS News reported.

“I felt like my life just switched in that moment,” Titcomb said. “It was a very weird feeling.”

Titcomb had undergone treatment for breast cancer in 2012.

In 2025, she was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer as well as pancreatic cancer. Doctors also found a mass on her ovary, which proved benign after the ovary was removed.

Why Early Detection Matters In Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed after it has spread to other organs. Its five-year overall survival rate is 13%.

The American Association for Cancer Research noted in its 2026 Cancer Progress Report that pancreatic cancer survival rates have shown little improvement despite advances in cancer care.

Doctors at Mass General Brigham planned chemotherapy and radiation to shrink Titcomb’s pancreatic tumor before surgery.

“I was told the size of the (pancreatic) cancer was about the size of a grape. The goal, to me, was trying to make this cancer a raisin,” she said. “That's the way I visualized it.”

The plan was to perform a Whipple procedure, a complex operation that removes the head of the pancreas, part of the small intestine, the gallbladder and the bile duct. Only about one in five pancreatic cancer patients is eligible for this surgery.

Titcomb’s early diagnosis made the operation possible.

“If I had not had that scan when I did, the outcome would have been bad,” she said.

Chemotherapy, Radiation And Surgery

Titcomb began chemotherapy in June 2025, receiving eight doses over four months. She then underwent three weeks of radiation and additional chemotherapy.

Surgical oncologist Dr. Thomas Clancy said she tolerated the treatment “very well.” The therapy shrank the pancreatic tumor enough for surgery.

On November 4, Titcomb underwent surgery to treat her breast cancer. Just over two weeks later, Clancy performed a robotic Whipple procedure to remove the affected part of her pancreas and other structures.

The operation was successful, and Titcomb said she was walking that night. She returned home after several days in the hospital.

Although she was recovering well, Clancy recommended two more months of chemotherapy because pancreatic cancer can be aggressive.

“There was a lot going on,” Titcomb said. “I just tried to cope with the day-to-day.”

No Evidence Of Cancer After Treatment

In March 2026, after further treatment, Clancy told Titcomb she had no evidence of cancer. She will continue to undergo scans every three months.

“She’s living her life. I generally tell patients at this point, ‘You’re done with therapy ... you go about your days,’” Clancy said. “The goal is to not be thinking about it all the time.”

Titcomb is returning to running her bookstore, which family members helped manage during her treatment. She is also spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, keeping in touch with those who live far away through photos, videos and phone calls.