Researchers uncover a link between analgesics and high blood pressure

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Common pain relievers increase blood pressure among men, according to US study.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin and ibuprofen are among the most popular medications in the world because of their ability to relieve pain. Acetaminophen, which is not actually a NSAID, is another very widely used painkiller. Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School now reveal a study that shows a link between use of NSAIDs and acetaminophen and high blood pressure.

The findings come from a study of over 16,000 male health professionals of average age 64.6 years who were not suffering from high blood pressure at the start. Over four years of follow up, nearly 2,000 of the men developed high blood pressure. Those who took acetaminophen for six or seven days a week had a 34 per cent higher risk of high blood pressure than than those who did not take analgesics. For those taking NSAIDs, the corresponding risk was 38 per cent and, for aspirin, the increased risk was 26 per cent.

The number of pills taken was also a factor. Taking 15 or more pills a week was linked to a 48 per cent increased risk of high blood pressure compared to taking no pills. It is possible that all these analgesics block substances which otherwise relax the blood vessels to decrease the blood pressure. Therefore, men who take painkillers regularly, for whatever reason, should be sure to get their blood pressure monitored.

Source
Archives of Internal Medicine 26th February 2007 Volume 167 pages 394-399

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