BITTER PILL Popular painkillers can cause hearing loss in women

London: Regular use of household painkillers including ibuprofen and paracetamol can lead to an increased risk of hearing loss in women, a new study has claimed.      The study of more than 62,000 women found that taking the drugs just twice a week increases the risk of hearing loss by up to 13%. Using ibuprofen six times a week makes women up to 24% more likely to develop some degree of hearing problem as compared with those who do not use the medication. Those using paracetamol up to five times a week increase the risk of hearing loss by 21%, the 'Daily Mail' reported.      However, the same effect was not seen for women who regularly take aspirin. Researchers who carried out the US study say they do not yet know why there is a link, or whether the damage caused is permanent. In the latest study, data was taken from the Nurses' Health Study in the US, a national survey of 116,430 female registered nurses conducted over 14 years from 1995 to 2009. The study identified more than 10,000 reported cases of hearing loss. PTI