{"id":189033,"date":"2025-12-17T08:58:07","date_gmt":"2025-12-17T08:58:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/189033\/"},"modified":"2025-12-17T08:58:07","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T08:58:07","slug":"cardiologist-gives-anyone-taking-omeprazole-and-nasal-decongestants-warning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/189033\/","title":{"rendered":"Cardiologist gives anyone taking Omeprazole and nasal decongestants warning"},"content":{"rendered":"

Heart expert said anyone taking exercise needs to be wary of commonly prescribed medications including ibuprofen and diuretics\"PeoplePeople need to be wary of doing exercise while taking 5 types of common medication, an expert said(Image: Getty)<\/p>\n

A cardiologist has raised an alert of the risks of taking a commonly prescribed medicine which is says could be \u2018sabotaging your health\u2019. Dr Aurelio Rojas said a number of drugs people across the UK take every day could cause problems.<\/p>\n

In a new video on Instagram<\/a> the Doctor explained that people need to be aware of some painkillers, nasal decongestants, antidepressants and Omeprazole.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cIf you do sports and take medication, you have to watch<\/a> this video because I am going to explain what meds may be sabotaging your health without your knowledge. And I\u2019m not talking about unusual medications; I\u2019m referring to the ones you take on a regular basis. And many people take them without realising it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although they seem harmless, their uncontrolled use, combined <\/a>with intense exercise, can have adverse effects, as Dr Rojas warns. He said: \u201cOmeprazole. If you take it regularly, it may alter the absorption of magnesium, iron and vitamin B12. This affects your energy, your recovery and the health of your heart.\u201d<\/p>\n

Omeprazole is primarily used to treat or prevent a range of conditions<\/a> related to excess stomach acid. He highlighted common painkillers: \u201cThis is very common: ibuprofen, diclofenac or naproxen. Taking them before working out can damage your kidneys and increase the risk of a heart attack, especially if you are dehydrated.\u201d<\/p>\n

Next, he said people with colds need to watch out: \u201cYou\u2019re going to be shocked about this one: nasal decongestant. Yes, those sprays or pills you take when you have a cold. Nasal decongestants increase blood pressure<\/a>, accelerate heart rate, and can cause arrhythmias if used before intense exercise.\u201d<\/p>\n

High blood pressure treatments are to be wary of, especially during exercise: \u201cThis is very common to treat hypertension. Diuretics can make you lose potassium and magnesium. Result: cramps, tachycardia and tension drops in the middle of training.\u201d<\/p>\n

And number five, and very, very important, antidepressants such as amitriptyline affect the heart\u2019s electrical conduction, increasing the risk of arrhythmias, especially in people who perform high-intensity exercise. It\u2019s not about scaring you; it\u2019s about training with your head and your heart.<\/p>\n

As a cardiologist and sports medicine specialist, he has treated many patients who, despite being committed to their training, unknowingly harm their health. \u201cWhat I often see is people taking ibuprofen, diclofenac, or naproxen to relieve muscle pain before training, and who also use omeprazole to protect their stomach. The problem is that we aren\u2019t always aware of what these medications can do to our bodies.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ibuprofen<\/p>\n

Ibuprofen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like diclofenac and naproxen are medications that many people take as if they were harmless. However, he said: \u201cThese medications reduce inflammation and pain, but they also affect renal and cardiovascular circulation, especially if you take them before training.<\/p>\n

\u201cDehydration, which is common during intense exercise, multiplies the risk of kidney damage and increases the likelihood of suffering a cardiovascular event, such as a heart attack.\u201d This occurs because NSAIDs interfere with blood flow to the kidneys, which can lead to complications if not taken with the proper precautions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nasal decongestants<\/p>\n

Nasal decongestants are also commonly misused. Those sprays or pills that many people use when they have a cold can have little-known side effects. \u201cNasal decongestants increase blood pressure, accelerate heart rate, and can cause arrhythmias if used before intense exercise,\u201d Rojas points out. \u201cThe problem is that many people use them without considering how they might affect their cardiovascular system while exercising. If you have a cold, it\u2019s best to avoid strenuous exercise or, at least, check with your doctor to see if the medication is appropriate for you at that time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Diuretics<\/p>\n

If you take diuretics to treat hypertension or a related condition, you should be especially cautious if you play sports. \u201cDiuretics cause you to eliminate fluids and electrolytes through urine. This can lead to imbalances in the body, such as the loss of potassium and magnesium, which are essential for muscle function and regulating heart rhythm,\u201d he warns. \u201cIt\u2019s common for athletes not to realise that cramps, fatigue, and rapid heartbeat during training can be related to taking diuretics. Furthermore, if you don\u2019t replenish these electrolytes, the risk of injury and heart problems increases.\u201d<\/p>\n

Content cannot be displayed without consentOmeprazole<\/p>\n

Omeprazole, a medication used to treat gastric problems such as ulcers or reflux, is another drug that many people use without considering the long-term consequences. Although it protects the stomach by reducing acidity, prolonged use can interfere with the absorption of vital nutrients, such as magnesium, iron, and vitamin B12, affecting your energy, recovery, and cardiovascular health. \u201cIf you take omeprazole for long periods without proper medical supervision, you may be disrupting your nutrient levels and compromising your performance and heart health,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n

Antidepressants<\/p>\n

Finally, we can\u2019t forget antidepressants, such as amitriptyline. \u201cAmitriptyline and other antidepressants affect the heart\u2019s electrical conduction, increasing the risk of arrhythmias, especially in people who perform high-intensity exercise,\u201d warns the cardiologist. \u201cIf you take these medications, it\u2019s essential that you talk to your doctor about how they may affect your physical activity, and don\u2019t combine them with extreme training without a prior assessment.\u201d<\/p>\n

So, what should you do if you need to take one of these medications? Aurelio Rojas is clear: always consult a doctor, avoid self-medication, and review your medication regularly. \u201cStay well hydrated, monitor your electrolytes if you use diuretics or NSAIDs, get regular blood tests, review your dosage with your doctor, and if you are an athlete, have a complete medical check-up every year.\u201d<\/p>\n

What if I need them? Is there a safe way to take them?<\/p>\n

Dr Rojas, said but with caution:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Don\u2019t take them before intense training.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Stay well hydrated and monitor your electrolytes if you\u2019re using diuretics or NSAIDs.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Get regular blood tests if you\u2019re using omeprazole long-term.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Check with your doctor to see if you can adjust the dose or switch to safer alternatives.<\/p>\n

\u2022 And if you\u2019re an athlete, get a complete medical check-up every year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Heart expert said anyone taking exercise needs to be wary of commonly prescribed medications including ibuprofen and diureticsPeople…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":189034,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[3554,589,163,3549,823,85,46,482,38222,2986,10110],"class_list":{"0":"post-189033","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-medication","8":"tag-blood-pressure","9":"tag-fitness","10":"tag-health","11":"tag-heart-attack","12":"tag-heart-disease","13":"tag-il","14":"tag-israel","15":"tag-medication","16":"tag-periods","17":"tag-prescriptions","18":"tag-vitamins"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/189033","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=189033"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/189033\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/189034"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=189033"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=189033"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=189033"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}