Ryan Mathews

Painkillers Linked to Hearing Loss in Men

March 3, 2010

FROM RETAILWIRE:
A new study published in the American Journal of Medicine suggests there may be a link between regular use of popular over-the-counter painkillers and an increased risk of hearing loss in men under the age of 60. Will the study cause a drop in sales of aspirin and other over-the-counter painkillers?      [more...]

What did you ask?

Well, it had to happen. For every fact there, is a counter fact. For every data point, an opposing piece of data.

What is the poor customer to believe? Take aspirin every day and help your heart at the expense of your ears or have perfect hearing as they wheel you in for your bypass?

The ability to establish statistical linkages between drugs/food and medical conditions makes it all but impossible for customers to know what is true or perhaps more importantly, which truth is more important.

One assumes that if an otherwise healthy male under 60 developed ringing in the ears and/or hearing loss they would seek out medical advice.

If he isn't smart enough to do that, he probably wouldn't "listen" to the newest medical study either.

Caveat emptor! Good advice then. Good advice now.