BBC reports that according to the British Medical Journal study, the risk is moderate, with only an extra three people in every thousand suffering from an adverse reaction.
Oxford University researchers found that, in patients taking COX-2s, the odds of a heart attack or stroke increased by 42% compared with placebo. The odds were increased by 51% for high-dose ibuprofen (800mg three times a day) and 63% for high-dose diclofenac (75mg twice a day), according to the BBC.
A spokesperson for Arthritis Care told BBC, "Millions of people take NSAIDs, and those taking higher doses do so because they're in a significant amount of pain.
"Provided they have accurate information, they can make an informed choice about whether it's the right one for them."
