Common Painkillers May Trigger Asthma

Aspirin and some related painkillers may trigger asthma attacks in as many as 20% of people who have the condition, reports a new study. Many painkillers, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, can cause attacks-but the fewest were caused by acetaminophen (found in Tylenol and Panadol), which caused a reaction among 7% of those studied.

Advice: Asthmatics should make acetaminophen their first choice for an over-the-counter pain reliever-but consult their doctors about it and be prepared in case a reaction occurs.