Common and over-the counter medications could increase the chances of heart diseases as they are high in sodium, a latest study reveals.
The study published in BMJ, stated that that some "fizzy" medicines have high salt content that can lead to cardiovascular problems in case of over-dosage. Researchers at the University of Dundee and the University College of London analyzed the data of 1.2 million UK patients from 1987 to 2010. During the study time frame, 61,000 participants were reported to be suffering from heart ailments.
The study authors examined the participants' body mass index, smoking, alcohol consumption, history of chronic diseases and history of prescription drug use.
The researchers found that the patients who took the effervescent dispersible tablets that contained sodium, were at 16 percent higher risk of suffering from heart attacks, stroke or vascular diseases compared to people who took medicines without the salt content.
Patients taking drugs high in sodium had 28 percent increased chances of death compared to the same medicines without sodium.
"Prescription of these sodium-containing formulations should be done with caution, and patients prescribed them should be closely monitored for the emergence of hypertension," the researchers wrote in the study.
The study authors advised that the medicines with sodium content should only be prescribed when the "benefits outweigh the risks" for each individual patient. Also, people who have been prescribed sodium containing drugs should lower their sodium intake in other foods.
They also advised that the medicines should carry appropriate warning labels about the sodium content so that people might understand about the risks involved.
"It is extraordinary to think that sodium has been hiding in our medicines all this time," Professor Gareth Beevers, of Blood Pressure UK said, reports BBC News. "Without clear labeling on these products, it is impossible to know how much additional sodium you would be eating, so it is shocking to find you could be having more than your daily maximum from medicines alone."
The study was published in the British Medical Journal.
