Final answer:
Patients should avoid NSAIDs if they have hypersensitivity, nasal polyps, or asthma, due to the risk of severe side effects, including increased risks of gastrointestinal issues, heart attack, and kidney disease. While acetaminophen is an alternative for pain and fever relief, it lacks anti-inflammatory properties and can damage the liver in high doses.
Step-by-step explanation:
NSAIDs and Health Conditions
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which include aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen, are medications used to reduce pain, decrease fever, prevent blood clots, and, in higher doses, reduce inflammation. However, patients should avoid NSAIDs if they have hypersensitivity to these drugs, nasal polyps, or asthma. NSAIDs can cause a range of side effects, including an increased risk of gastrointestinal ulcers and bleeds, heart attack, and kidney disease.
They act by inhibiting the conversion of arachidonic acid into prostaglandins, which are responsible for causing inflammation and pain. However, the long-term use of NSAIDs can lead to gastrointestinal, liver, or kidney damage, and they may have interactions with other conditions such as heart disease and high blood pressure.
When choosing an alternative to NSAIDs, acetaminophen is often used as an analgesic and antipyretic agent. While it may have fewer side effects than NSAIDs, it does not provide anti-inflammatory benefits and can cause severe liver damage in case of overdose.