In another MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) campaign, US Vice President JD Vance has rolled out another controversial statement. Following the unproven claim of linking Tylenol with Autism, Vance presented his views on ‘useless medication’. Speaking to the Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, Vance remarked that he didn’t like medications.
“I don’t like taking medications. I don’t like taking anything unless I absolutely have to. And I think that’s another MAHA style attitude. It’s not anti-medication, it’s anti-useless medication. We should only be taking stuff, we should only be giving our kids stuff, if it’s actually necessary, safe and effective,” Vance said.
He added, “If I have like, you know, a back sprain, or I slept weird and I woke up with back pain, I don’t want to take Ibuprofen.”
This comes as a preemptive step before a potential directive to federal agencies to help phase out these medicines. Over the past few months, MAHA has rallied against the use of painkillers during pregnancy, linking it with the rise in autism cases in the US.
Here’s how painkillers work
There are several common painkillers which contain Ibuprofen. It relieves pain, reduces inflammation, and lowers fever. It blocks certain natural chemicals in the body, which cause swelling and discomfort.
When a person is hurt or sick, their body produces chemicals which make the nerves more sensitive to pain. Painkillers aid in slowing down this process by ultimately blocking pain signals. It slows down the production of these chemicals, avoiding the nerves from sending the ‘pain’ messages to the brain – eventually making the person feel better.
What do painkillers do
The primary function of the medication is to reduce inflammation and ease the pain. When it comes to reducing the pain-causing chemicals, the pill lessens redness and heat in the affected area. Thus, commonly administered during muscle spasms and sprains, as per a study published in the National Library of Medicine in 2015.
Ibuprofen also affects the brain’s temperature-control centre, the hypothalamus. In turn, helping to lower high body temperatures. The 2015 study also shows that painkillers may also inhibit certain immune responses, which makes inflammation worse, thus making the brain feel like the pain has subsided and giving it an overall calming effect.
Numerous clinical trials and reviews, including those from DrugBank and MedlinePlus, support ibuprofen’s effectiveness for mild to moderate pain, inflammation, and fever.
Disclaimer: Always consult a doctor before starting any diet or fitness routine. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
