Indeed, our body has a magical response to any unwanted elements that are threatening our body. The biological responses not only protect the body but also recovers the damages. For example, you are suffering from fever. You need to take basic actions combined with the meditations. Although, the immune system started to fight against fever. The drugs that you get are falling under the anti-inflammatory category. Let’s know more about them!

What are Anti-inflammatory Chemicals?

Inflammation (redness, pain, and swelling) is a component of the complicated biological response of body tissues to adverse provocations, like- damaged cells, pathogens, or irritants. This protective response needs the help of molecular mediators, immune cells, and blood vessels. In other words, any Anti-inflammatory drug or substance will block particular substances, which results in inflammation.

There are generally four symptoms of inflammation- heat (calor), pain (dolor), redness (Latin rubor), and swelling (tumor). If not treated, inflammation will bring more trouble to human health.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs reduce pain, overcome inflammation, and treat high temperatures. They’re also used to cure cold and flu symptoms, sprains, strains, headaches, arthritis, painful periods, and different long-term pains.

The main kinds of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory chemicals are naproxen, ibuprofen, diclofenac, mefenamic acid, celecoxib, indomethacin, etoricoxib, and high-dose Aspirin.

1. Naproxen

Naproxen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory substance or drug applied to heal pain, fever, rheumatoid arthritis, and menstrual cramps. It is administered orally with direct and delayed-release doses.

2. Ibuprofen

It is a Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug used for treating fever, pain, and other inflammations like- migraines, rheumatoid arthritis, and menstrual period pain.

3. Diclofenac

Diclofenac is also an anti-inflammatory drug used to heal pain and other inflammatory diseases like gout. It has various doses form like- administered orally, by injection, suppository, and skin. The healing factor will last for up to 8-hours.

4. Mefenamic acid

Mefenamic acid is an anti-inflammatory compound used to heal mild to moderate pain. Due to its side effects and cost factor. It’s not an excellent anti-inflammatory drug.

5. Celecoxib

Celecoxib is an anti-inflammatory substance or drug and COX-2 inhibitor. It is useful to treat acute pain, osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and painful menstruation.

6. Indometacin 

Indometacin is an anti-inflammatory drug or substance generally used as a prescription medicine for fever, pain, swelling, and stiffness. The Indometacin functions by restraining the creation of prostaglandins in the body.

7. Etoricoxib

Etoricoxib is also an anti-inflammatory substance and selective COX-2 inhibitor used for treating pain and different -inflammations.

8. Aspirin 

Aspirin or acetylsalicylic acid is a substance or drug applied to heal inflammation and reduce pain, fever, etc.  Diseases like rheumatic fever, pericarditis, and Kawasaki disease are also treated using Aspirin. Administering Aspirin quickly after a heart attack reduces the chances of mortality.

9. Antileukotrienes

Antileukotrines1 substances are also anti-inflammatory agents who work as leukotriene receptor antagonists or leukotriene-related enzyme inhibitors and continually oppose the adoption of specific inflammatory mediators. However, they are applied for analgesic advantages.

They are generally used to treat diseases associated with inflammation of the lungs like- asthma, sinus inflammation in allergic rhinitis, inflammation of the brain like Parkinson’s disease.

Dose

The doctors or physicians determine the doses based on the person’s age, sex, complications, and considering other parameters. These drugs are sold over the counter, although it’s not safe to administer them for long. 

Anti-Inflammatory Herbal Supplements 

Indeed, with natural herbal supplements that have Anti-inflammatory properties, you can remain healthy and strong. Several herbs can aid you in decreasing or stop inflammation in your body. The best option is to use natural resources. Some of them are- Green Tea, Lemon, Ginger, Honey, Turmeric,  Black Pepper, etc.

The chemicals from these mentioned herbs will help fight inflammation. However, if you don’t have time or your busy life schedule won’t allow you to cook or eat fresh, you can go for herbal or ayurvedic supplements.

The important thing is these herbal products don’t show any side effects. When your goal is to stay fit naturally, you should do anything, whatever it takes!

 

What is the use of it?

  1. Anti-inflammatory substances or drugs are used for treating inflammation, pain, high temperature, or fever.

 

  1. These drugs also are used to ease pain conditions like- headaches, arthritis, muscle or joint complaints, toothache, joint or bone injuries, pain in the lower back, etc.

 

  1. The cold or flu can also be treated using Anti-inflammatory substances or drugs.

 

How do Anti-inflammatory substances work? 

Certainly, prostaglandins are hormone-like elements in the body that results in inflammation, pain, and fever by increasing temperature plus expanding blood vessels. It will create swelling and redness in the body part.

Anti-inflammatory agents or drugs block an enzyme named COX or cyclooxygenase, which the body utilizes to produce prostaglandins. Therefore, by decreasing prostaglandin’s formation, the anti-inflammatory agents or medicines help reduce the pain and reduce inflammation.

Precautions

The body’s response2 to anti-inflammatory substances or drugs differs from person-to-person. Considering that, some people will undergo side effects by utilizing one dose, but some may not. Patients should regularly read the label for the anti-inflammatory drugs.

Every NSAID is different. Minors below 16-years of age and people over 65-years of age may require to avoid these drugs. People who are allergic to anti-inflammatory chemicals should not use these drugs. During pregnancy or breast-feeding, administering these drugs are not safe. Finally, anyone with heart disease or a serious heart condition should not use it.

Side effects

If anyone administers any Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, it will result in gastric erosions3. Which later can turn into stomach ulcers, and in extreme cases, it will result in death by severe bleeding. The risk is colossal for old age peoples (over 75-years).

Overuse of anti-inflammatory drugs can also result in kidney damage and asthma. Some over-the-counter medicines can raise the chance of stroke and heart attack if administered longer and higher doses. They may increase the risk of bowel side effects like bleeding and ulcers and cause severe stomach pain.

These chemicals may have drug interaction. Consuming high doses of any drug for a long time will act as a poison. Drinking alcohol while administering any anti-inflammatory medication can have a severe health impact!  Ultimately, an overdose of these chemicals will result in a long time illness and can induce death.

Conclusion

The anti-inflammatory substances relieve pain and offer us comfort. However, the steroid can do the same, but it has more side effects than the anti-inflammatory substances.

In the old days, the steroid is used for multiple purposes, but modern medicine strongly suggests less use of steroid drugs for various reasons. Backed by the research, they can claim this too. For this reason, we can surely say that anti-inflammatory substances or drugs are safe. Yet, we always have to remain alert for any side-effects and consult the physician if needed.

 

Reference

  1. Antileukotrines: Retrieved from the wikipedia.org website.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-inflammatory

  1. Body’s response: Retrieved from the medicalnewstoday.com website.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/179211#precautions

  1. Gastric erosions: Retrieved from clevelandclinic.org website.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/11086-non-steroidal-anti-inflammatory-medicines-nsaids