Prescription Painkiller Boosts Risk of Heart Attack, Stroke

Diclofenac is one of the most widely used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) in the world, and is commonly available without prescription, but an analysis of data from more than 6.3 million people has now linked the drug with serious cardiovascular disorders including heart attack, stroke, and cardiac death, as well as with gastric bleeding. Results from the study, which looked at data held in Danish health and prescription registries, suggest that the cardiovascular risks associated