Late one afternoon, a lady was driving home in the rush hour traffic. The last thing she needed was a pounding headache. While she was stopped, she dug in her purse for some aspirin to relieve her headache. She chugged it down with the Pepsi sitting by the seat. Her only worry was to relieve her headache. The affect of the painkiller on the other parts of her body was not a concern to her at that point in time.
             Should people wonder if their painkillers are affecting their body? Should people know how painkillers are affecting their heart, heart rate, or even worse, causing heart disease? It may just be the ingredients of a pill. Often the side effects of medication are discovered too late. "Phentermine and fenfluramine are not only a diet pill ingredient but also causes heart valve problems." (Gorman 113) This is just one example of the things that may cause heart problems. They could also include an ingredient in a painkiller or other medications that a person could be taking.
             There are many different types of painkillers, the most common include Aspirin, Tylenol, and Ibuprofen. Aspirin, is used to relieve minor headaches, reduce fevers, colds, muscular aches, menstrual discomfort, toothaches and arthritis pain. Tylenol, is primarily for the relieve of minor aches and pains associated with headache, muscular aches, backache, minor arthritis pain, common cold, toothache, and menstrual cramps and for the reduction of fever. Ibuprofen, also relieves minor aches and pains due to colds, headaches, toothaches, and reduction of fevers.
             But yet, why may they affect the heart? The heart is found behind the breastbone. The heart is a hollow muscular organ that balances the circulation of blood. Blood then passes through four chambers that are separated by valves. "Valves control the blood movement inside the heart." (Funk and Wagnals 273) What kinds of heart diseases are caused from painkillers...