Ibuprofen is a medication commonly used to reduce pain and inflammation, but a new study suggests its benefits do not stop there. Researchers have found that the drug may also reduce the risk of death from lung cancer among former and current smokers.
This year, it is estimated that around 224,390 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with lung cancer, and more than 158,000 Americans will die from the disease, making it the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women.
Previous studies have shown that chronic inflammation is associated with increased risk of lung cancer. Since ibuprofen is a medication that reduces inflammation, Dr. Bittoni and colleagues set out to investigate whether the drug might benefit people with a history of smoking
Because the vast majority of lung cancer cases were among past or current smokers, the team also calculated the effects of NSAIDs in a further sample of 5,882 adults with a history of smoking.
Overall, the team found that former or current smokers who regularly used ibuprofen were 48 percent less likely to die from lung cancer than those who did not use the drug.
Post a Comment