Study links asthma, painkillers

CAMPERDOWN, Australia, Feb. 19 (UPI) -- Researchers in Britain and Australia said Thursday asthma patients should be more aware of potentially severe side effects from aspirin and other painkillers.

Australian and British researchers from Woolcock Institute of Medical Research in Australia, King's College Hospital in London and other facilities reviewed 21 previous studies and found aspirin induced an asthmatic reaction in 21 percent of adults and 5 percent of children with asthma.

Most of these patients also were sensitive to other over-the-counter, non-steroidal pain relief drugs, such as ibuprofen, naproxen -- including the brand name Aleve -- and diclofenac, sold as Solaraze.

Reactions to acetaminophen -- the ingredient in Tylenol -- were found to be less severe, however, affecting only 7 percent of participants on average.

Healthcare professionals should advise patients diagnosed with asthma about the possibility of aspirin-induced asthma, the researchers recommended.

They also recommended simple, standardized warnings on labels of aspirin and other pain relievers that alert asthmatic patients to the potential risks.