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You might consider yourself someone who doesn’t take painkillers very often. When you compare yourself to that one friend with arthritis or that neck issue who pops a couple of Advil or Aspirin several times a day every single day, you might say, “I barely take painkillers.” But, when it comes to assessing your health and habits, it’s not really great to compare yourself to others—just think about what’s good for your body. If you take a painkiller every time you get a drinking-related headache (let’s say, once a week), any time PMS cramps kick in, and each time your workout leaves your sore, you may wind up taking painkillers a couple times a week. That’s actually quite a lot. We aren’t saying that’s a bad thing but, if you’re going to expose your body to something that often, shouldn’t you know a thing or two about it? Here are facts about Advil and similar painkillers.
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There are two main painkillers
When talking about over-the-counter pain relievers, there are two main types: acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Both of these can treat fever and pain, but only NSAIDs can reduce inflammation.
