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Acetaminophen Use May Harm Lungs
(HealthDayNews, 5/3/05)
Tricia M. McKeever, and fellow researchers at the
University of Nottingham, England, found that acetaminophen, a
non-prescription painkiller sold as Tylenol, increases the
risk of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
and, with daily use, can impair lung function. The
investigators analyzed data gathered from 1988 to1994 from
nearly 13,500 U.S. participants in the Third National Health
and Nutrition Examination Survey. The scientists speculate
that regular acetaminophen use may deplete the antioxidant,
glutathione, in lung tissue, leaving the lung vulnerable to
damage.
(American Journal of Respiratory and
Critical Care Medicine, May 2005) |
Article Summary