The advice from health officials is changing almost hourly. And everyone has a different take.
Do THIS! Don’t do THAT! No, wait a minute, try THIS instead.
No one can seem to agree on the facts. So it’s no wonder people are feeling scared, confused, and wondering what to do.
Just the other day, they fired off the most head-spinning set of contradictory advisories you’ll ever see.
First, it was… OMG… if there’s even a chance you could have coronavirus, then don’t even THINK about taking NSAIDs such as ibuprofen (aka Advil). And that’s especially true for the notoriously high fevers and body aches that often come with the infection.
Then, barely 24 hours later, it was… OOPS! … forget we ever said that. Go ahead and take your ibuprofen.
Confused yet? Let me help sort it all out, so you know exactly what to do if you get a fever and suspect it could be caused by the new coronavirus threat.
And, let’s face it, right now we’re all convinced every tickle, cough, or twinge is a sign of coronavirus infection.
The coronavirus CAUTION over a popular drug
The World Health Organization (WHO) warned folks who may have coronavirus of possible risks in taking ibuprofen and other NSAIDs after the French Health Minister said the drugs could worsen the infection.
We were told we should stick to other meds such as acetaminophen (aka Tylenol) instead. But then suddenly the WHO reversed course and said forget that. Go ahead and pop those ibuprofen pills.
Now with things moving so fast, you may be wondering, “How’d they study this issue and sort it out so quickly?” Well, something tells me they didn’t. After all, studies take time.
The ibuprofen connection to COVID-19
But here’s what we DO know.
In addition to the warning from France, a report in the journal Lancet found NSAIDs such as ibuprofen increase ACE2 receptors on a cell. And scientists already suspect those same receptors may play a key role in how these kinds of infections spread in the body as they attach to those receptors in the lung.
If you have more receptors, you could be giving the COVID-19 virus more places to latch onto and attack. In fact, it’s the same reason folks with hypertension or diabetes who are being treated with ACE inhibitor drugs may be at an increased risk for the coronavirus too.
That’s in THEORY, and it does still need to be confirmed by other research before we can say for sure it’s the case. Plus, the WHO insists taking the drug doesn’t pose any risks. But it’s a concerning enough theory, with some science to back it up, that some experts are still saying it’s best to avoid ibuprofen.
So if you have a fever, if you’re worried about coronavirus, and you’re at risk, call your doctor ASAP. And since other options can help reduce both fevers and body aches, such as acetaminophen, go ahead and ask if it’s okay to skip the ibuprofen for now.
Your doctor can help you make the best decision for YOU.
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