Are you one of those people who just pop a pill or painkiller without consultation from your doctor, or when there is some mild discomfort?
According to Dr Sumit Kapadia, a vascular surgeon and varicose vein specialist, your painkillers may be silently damaging your liver without you even knowing about it.
6 ways painkillers silently damage your liverIn an Instagram post shared on July 12, Dr Kapadia talked about the 6 ways painkillers are silently damaging your liver. He wrote, "'It's just one pill.' But when that one pill becomes a habit after every headache, period pain, or muscle ache, your liver starts paying the price." Let's find out how painkillers may be harming your liver:
1. Overdose risk (especially with paracetamol)Even slightly exceeding the safe daily limit can overwhelm your liver.
2. Liver enzyme spikesRegular painkiller use can quietly raise your liver enzymes, damaging it without symptoms.
3. Fatty liver progressionNSAIDs (like ibuprofen) may contribute to liver inflammation and worsen fatty liver in some cases.
4. Dangerous with alcoholTaking painkillers after drinking? A deadly combo for liver toxicity.
5. Masking symptomsYou treat the pain, not the cause, letting the underlying issue (and inflammation) silently grow.
6. Liver failure in extreme casesChronic overuse, especially without supervision, can lead to irreversible damage.
The surgeon warned, "Your liver doesn't scream until it's already hurt. It works quietly, until it can't anymore." He suggested 3 ways you can stop painkillers from becoming the silent liver killers:
What to do instead:
- Use painkillers only when truly needed
- Never exceed recommended doses
- Always consult your doctor if you're taking them often
You treat the pain, not the cause, letting the underlying issue (and inflammation) silently grow.
6. Liver failure in extreme casesChronic overuse, especially without supervision, can lead to irreversible damage.
The surgeon warned, "Your liver doesn't scream until it's already hurt. It works quietly, until it can't anymore." He suggested 3 ways you can stop painkillers from becoming the silent liver killers:
What to do instead:
- Use painkillers only when truly needed
- Never exceed recommended doses
- Always consult your doctor if you're taking them often
