Ibuprofen  may raise the risk of heart attack and stroke when taken in regular prescription size dosages.

 A new study by the University of Oxford of 320 thousand men taking prescription dosage of Ibuprofen taken daily were 40 percent more likely to have a heart. The study found that the cardiac side effect were similar to that of Vioxx which was taken off the market for increased risk of heart attack.

For those taking Ibuprofen as well as other NSAIDs were also found to double the risk of heart failure and complications such as bleeding ulcers when taken in high quantities.

The research shows that, when used in high doses,  ibuprofen increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, on average causing about three extra heart attacks a year in every 1,000 patients treated.

For the patient this is a risk verses benefit choice. The severe pain of diseases such a rheumatoid arthritis may be well worth the risks involved. The risks of bleeding ulcers which can lead to death if not treated should not be a problem if the patient is educated and monitored by their physician.

People taking NSAIDs occasionally for pain have never been found to be at higher risk for arthritis.