Urgent warning as world's most common painkiller linked to killer disease
An urgent warning has been issued about one of the world's most common drugs - which could secretly be harming your liver.
The pill - which is used for anything from headaches to muscle pain - is generally safe as long as the recommended dosage isn't exceeded.
Senior lecturer in pharmacy practice at Kingston University, Dipa Kamdar, has warned that even taking a few pills over the recommendation could have "extremely dangerous" consequences for your liver.
Most people would assume that drinking alcohol is the primary cause of liver damage, but Dipa warned there are a number of "often overlooked" everyday habits that can "eventually lead to serious conditions such as cirrhosis - permanent scarring of the liver - or liver failure".
She said that eating foods high in sugar or saturated fat, smoking, and exercising enough can all lead to the life-threatening conditions, as can taking too much paracetamol.
"Despite its remarkable resilience – and even its ability to regenerate – the liver is not indestructible," Dipa wrote in The Conversation.
"One of the challenges with liver disease is that it can be a silent threat. In its early stages, it may cause only vague symptoms like constant fatigue or nausea.
"As damage progresses, more obvious signs may emerge. One of the most recognisable is jaundice, where the skin and the whites of the eyes turn yellow."
Each year, liver disease kills more than 11,000 people in the UK - which amounts to more than 31 deaths each day, according to The British Liver Trust. The charity warned that while deaths from other major diseases are falling, deaths from liver disease have quadrupled in the past five decades.
When paracetamol is broken down by the liver, it produces a toxic by-product called NAPQI - which is usually neutralised by a protective substance called glutathione. However, when someone takes too much of the drug, the body is flooded with the toxins and the liver can become overwhelmed.
Dipa explained: "In an overdose, glutathione stores become depleted, allowing NAPQI to accumulate and attack liver cells," Dipa warned. This can result in acute liver failure, which can be fatal.
"Even small overdoses, or combining paracetamol with alcohol, can increase the risk of serious harm. Always stick to the recommended dose and speak to a doctor if you find yourself needing pain relief regularly."
Researchers have undertaken numerous studies into the dangers of taking paracetamol, with some linking low doses to liver failure.
Honorary senior research fellow at the University of Oxford, Andrew Moore, wrote in The Conversation : "Paracetamol is known to cause liver failure in overdose, but it also causes liver failure in people taking standard doses for pain relief. The risk is only about one in a million, but it is a risk."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Daily Mail
Scientist reveals why we should quit or cut down on burgers to save the planet
However you prefer yours, a juicy beef burger can be satisfying but now experts say we should limit our intake to just one every couple of weeks in order to help curb climate change. Professor Paul Behrens of the University of Oxford claims people must cut down on meat and dairy to save the planet, and he argued that long–term climate change could make it impossible to grow food in one-third of current production areas. The professor wrote on The Conversation: 'A shift to plant-rich diets in the UK would free an area almost the size of Scotland [30,000 square miles].' Those of us who love chicken, pork, and beef shouldn't worry, though, as you could still enjoy your favorite meals. Professor Behrens said: 'It's not even vegetarian, although it does include a more reasonable - and healthier - amount of meat and dairy. 'For example, it still includes a hamburger every fortnight.' The professor explained that a shift to plant–rich diets would provide more space to grow crops and help curb rising food prices. He cited research by agricultural economists that found one-third of food price increases in UK in 2023 resulted from climate change. Other studies also predicted significant food price increases every year over the coming decade. Consistent stress on the food system could even cause collapse, according to some experts, which could prompt civil unrest and lead to riots. Professor Behrens said: 'This trajectory of climate-driven food price hikes - leading to social unrest and political decay - is not inevitable. 'The scientific consensus shows that the biggest opportunity we have for reducing food's environmental impacts across many countries is increasing the amount of plants we eat and reducing meat and dairy intake.' A previous study, also carried out by academics at the University of Oxford, revealed that eating just 100g of meat per day - less than a single burger - created four times more greenhouse gases when compared to a vegan diet. Peter Scarborough at Oxford's Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences said: 'Our dietary choices have a big impact on the planet. Our results, which use data from over 38,000 farms in over 100 countries, show that high meat diets have the biggest impact for many important environmental indicators, including climate change and biodiversity loss. 'Cutting down the amount of meat and dairy in your diet can make a big difference to your dietary footprint.' Researchers performed computer modelling scenarios of future greenhouse gas emissions up to the 22nd century using publicly available data from the UN. Experts found that eliminating all animal agriculture in the next 15 years would drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pull carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Animal agriculture contributed to global warming because of the methane, nitrous oxide, and carbon emissions of livestock together with their supply chains.
Daily Mail
07-08-2025
- Daily Mail
Brits should only eat a burger once every 2 WEEKS to save the planet, climate scientist claims
Whether you have yours with pickles, extra cheese or covered in sauce, a burger can be one of the most satisfying meals to tuck into. But people should limit their intake to one every two weeks to help curb climate change, according to an expert. Paul Behrens, a British Academy Global Professor at the University of Oxford, claims Brits must cut down on their meat and dairy intake to help save the planet. He argued that long–term climate change could make it impossible to grow food in a third of current production areas. 'A shift to plant–rich diets in the UK would free an area almost the size of Scotland,' he wrote on The Conversation. Those who love chicken, pork and beef shouldn't worry though – as they'd still be able to enjoy their favourite meals. 'It's not even vegetarian, although it does include a reasonable – and healthier – amount of meat and dairy,' he said. 'For example, it still includes a hamburger every fortnight.' Professor Behrens explained that a shift to plant–rich diets would provide more space to grow crops and help curb rising food prices. He cited research by agricultural economists that found a third of UK food price increases in 2023 resulted from climate change. Other studies also predict significant food price increases every year in the coming decade. Consistent stress on the food system could even cause collapse, according to some experts, prompting civil unrest and riots. 'This trajectory of climate–driven food price hikes – leading to social unrest and political decay – is not inevitable,' Professor Behrens added. 'The scientific consensus shows that the biggest opportunity we have for reducing food's environmental impacts across many countries is increasing the amount of plants we eat and reducing meat and dairy intake.' A previous study, also carried out by academics at the University of Oxford, revealed that eating just 100g meat per day – less than a single burger – creates four times more greenhouse gases compared to a vegan diet. 'Our dietary choices have a big impact on the planet,' said lead author Peter Scarborough, professor of population health at Oxford's Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences. Why is meat bad for the planet? Meat–heavy diets risk the health of our planet, as livestock farming on a massive scale destroys habitats and generates greenhouse gases. Animal agriculture contributes to global warming because of the methane, nitrous oxide and carbon emissions of livestock and their supply chains. The clearing of trees to make way for grazing cattle also reduces carbon sequestration – the process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide. 'Our results, which use data from over 38,000 farms in over 100 countries, show that high meat diets have the biggest impact for many important environmental indicators, including climate change and biodiversity loss. 'Cutting down the amount of meat and dairy in your diet can make a big difference to your dietary footprint.' Earlier this year, scientists claimed that Brits will need to curb their meat consumption if the government is to meet its net zero targets. The government's climate advisers said that the average amount of meat eaten by Brits each week equates to roughly eight kebabs, but that this needs to be reduced by a quarter to help meet emissions targets. They also suggested that Brits reduce their dairy consumption by 20 per cent by 2040. Labour's Climate Change Committee said this would allow for farmland to be freed up for increased tree planting to absorb carbon at greater rates. Separately, a report compiled by HelloFresh predicted that Brits will soon be eating the likes of kelp noodle stir fry, soybean spaghetti and dandelion salad in the fight against climate change. All dishes are free from any meat and very little cheese, which studies show are a big drivers of greenhouse gas emissions like carbon dioxide and methane. Meanwhile, a study published in 2022 suggested that a total elimination of meat production around the world by 2037 could slash global emissions by 68 per cent and save Earth from climate change. Researchers performed computer modelling scenarios of future greenhouse gas emissions up to the 22nd century using publicly available data from the UN. Eliminating all animal agriculture in the next 15 years would drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pull carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, they found. Animal agriculture contributes to global warming because of the methane, nitrous oxide and carbon emissions of livestock and their supply chains. THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF FARMING COWS The livestock animals are notorious for creating large amounts of methane, which is a major contributor to global warming. Each of the farm animals produces the equivalent of three tonnes of carbon dioxide per year and the amount of the animals is increasing with the growing need to feed a booming population. Methane is one of the most potent greenhouse gases, trapping 30 times more heat than the same amount of carbon dioxide. Scientists are investigating how feeding them various diets can make cattle more climate-friendly. They believe feeding seaweed to dairy cows may help and are also using a herb-rich foodstuff called the Lindhof sample. Researchers found a cow's methane emissions were reduced by more than 30 per cent when they ate ocean algae. In research conducted by the University of California, in August, small amounts of it were mixed into the animals' feed and sweetened with molasses to disguise the salty taste. As a result, methane emissions dropped by almost a third. 'I was extremely surprised when I saw the results,' said Professor Ermias Kebreab, the animal scientist who led the study. 'I wasn't expecting it to be that dramatic with a small amount of seaweed.' The team now plans to conduct a further six-month study of a seaweed-infused diet in beef cattle, starting this month.
Daily Mail
06-08-2025
- Daily Mail
Scientists reveal the surprising secret to UNSHRINKING clothes after a laundry mishap
No matter how hard you try, some clothes inevitably shrink in the wash. And it can be devastating to see your favourite shirt or dress shrivel before your eyes. While many might simply just throw them away at this point, experts have now revealed there might be a way of saving them. And all your need is a common bathroom product. Dr Nisa Salim, from the Swinburne University of Technology in Australia, said understanding more about the science of textile fibres can not only help you prevent the shrinkage of clothing, but might also help you 'rescue' the occasional garment after a laundry accident. 'If a favourite garment has shrunk in the wash, you can try to rescue it with this simple method,' she wrote on The Conversation. 'This process can't completely reverse extreme shrinkage but it can help recover some of the lost size, making the clothes wearable again.' So, here's what to do next time your best jumper emerges from the wash 10 sizes smaller. Dr Salim suggests soaking the shrunken item in lukewarm water mixed with hair conditioner or baby shampoo, at a measurement of around one tablespoon per litre. Then, you can carefully stretch the fabric back into shape and dry it flat under gentle tension – for example, by hanging it on a drying rack. This solution all comes down to the fibres that clothes are made of, she explained. Common textile fibres, such as cotton and linen, are made from plants and are irregular and crinkled in their natural form. During textile manufacturing, these fibres are mechanically pulled, stretched and twisted to make them straighten and align, creating long, smooth threads. However, when these fibres are exposed to heat, moisture or mechanical action – for example, when in a washing machine – they have a tendency to relax and return to their natural state. 'This fibre memory is why some fabrics wrinkle so easily and why some of them may even shrink after washing,' Dr Salim said. Her unshrinking method works because hair conditioners and baby shampoos contain chemicals called cationic surfactants. 'These will temporarily lubricate the fibres, making them more flexible and allowing you to gently pull everything back into place,' she said. To minimise shrinkage, people could try using cold water, the lowest spin speed or the gentlest cycle available, she explained. And when in doubt, choose a 'delicate' setting. Textile scientists are now working on fabrics that resist shrinkage. Promising innovations include blended yarns that combine natural and synthetic fibres. How do you get rid of stains? Even if you have the dining etiquette of a duchess, your clothes will at some point fall victim to a splash of sauce or a dribble of gravy. But most stains do disappear. The clue is to work out what kind of stain you've got . . . Pigment-based stains Coloured products and food e.g. wine, coffee, tea, fruit juice, perfume, grass, ink Treatment: Blot stain with kitchen paper, flush with cold water and blot again. Pre-soak using a biological pre-wash powder or apply a gel. Leave for five to ten minutes then wash. Remember: For tannin-based stains, never use salt or soap. Both will set it permanently. Protein-based stains Most food stains eg. egg. Sweat, blood. Treatment: Lift excess solids with a blunt knife. Blot with paper towel. Soak in cold water and add a biological pre-soaking agent. Machine wash at 40c with biological detergent. Remember: Never use hot water; the protein can set into the fibres of the textiles. Grease-based stains Butter, oil, mayonnaise, sun tan lotion Treatment: Scrape off solid parts. Soak up excess moisture with kitchen paper. Sprinkle with baking powder or baby powder to absorb the oil. Shake off and apply liquid detergent, then leave for a few minutes. Machine wash.
