How do nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) relieve a patient's pain?

a. By promoting release of anti-inflammatory chemicals and altering the sensitivity of nerve tracts.
b. By binding to opioid receptors in the central nervous system and altering the per-ception of pain.
c. By reducing the amount of bradykinin at the site of injury and altering the stimu-lation of nociceptors.
d. By inhibiting the generation of impulses along sensory nerve tracts and altering pain transmission.


C
When pain mediators are released from damaged tissue, especially substance P and bradykinin (which is also an inflammatory mediator), they bind to the nociceptors and activate them. NSA-IDs reduce pain by suppressing some part of the inflammatory pathway and reducing the amounts of pain-mediating chemicals, especially bradykinin, present. With less bradykinin present, less stimulation of the nociceptors occurs. As a result, pain is reduced.

Nursing

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Indicate whether this statement is true or false.

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