Here’s another reason to limit the use of common painkillers: a higher risk of hearing loss.

Many of us pop up to eight pills a day of aspirin, ibuprofen (such as Advil) or acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) in accordance with the daily maximums noted on the pill bottles. These are over-the-counter drugs after all, presumed safe.

The consequences can be far more significant. Aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen (such as Aleve) are NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and they have a host of side effects noted on the inserts. The American College of Rheumatology lists stomach problems, high blood pressure, kidney and heart problems among others. For people with chronic conditions, it’s easy to skip over these warnings in order to relieve the pain. Many doctors recommend acetaminophen as the painkiller with the fewest dangerous side effects.

Read more here about the surprising findings about which painkiller has the highest correlation with  hearing loss. Not what you’d expect.