Paracetamol may make asthma worse
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.People who take paracetamol at least once a week are at higher risk of developing asthma, researchers have found. Daily use of the common painkiller could also cause the condition to worsen, according to a study by doctors at Guy's and St Thomas' hospital, London.
In a study of more than 1,500 people, including over 600 asthmatics, the researchers found that those who took paracetamol every week were 80 per cent more likely to have asthma than those who never took it. Those who took a daily dose were more than twice as likely to be sufferers and were more likely to suffer severely.
Writing in the journal Thorax, the authors suggest that paracetamol could decrease blood levels of the antioxidant glutathione, high levels of which are found in the lining of the airways and the nose. Glutathione is thought to protect the lungs from the harmful effects of pollutants and free radicals, which are high in the lungs of asthmatics.
The authors warn that asthmatics should not substitute aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen for paracetamol as they can cause severe reactions. Instead, they should cut their paracetamol intake if possible.
Smoking three or four joints of cannabis a day is equivalent to a pack a day of 20 cigarettes, doctors say. Researchers from the Glasgow Royal Infirmary report in Thorax that a study of four men who developed the crippling lung disease, emphysema, despite smoking only a minimal number of cigarettes, suggested their disease was due to cannabis smoking.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments