Tag: hypertension

Meds & Supplements, News & Research

Analgesics Increase Blood Pressure… or Not

Kerrie Smyres

Men who use analgesics are not likely to be at a greater risk of high blood pressure than those who don’t, according to a study in the Sept. 12 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine. Although the original analysis of the same data did find a significant association of cumulative analgesic use and high blood pressure, this study, which considered other contributing factors to high blood pressure, did not. Researchers also noted no difference in men who took high quantities of the drugs and those who took low quantities.

For information on other studies of analgesic use, see Another Problem with Painkillers.

Meds & Supplements, News & Research

Tylenol & Ibuprofen Linked to Women’s High Blood Pressure

Kerrie Smyres

Women who take more than 400 milligrams of ibuprofen (or other NSAIDs) or 500 milligrams of acetaminophen per day have an increased risk of high blood pressure than those who do not take the meds, found a study that will be published in the September issue of the journal Hypertension.

Taking more than 400 milligrams of NSAIDs per day increased the risk of high blood pressure by 78% in women 51 to 77 years old and by 60% in women between the ages of 34 and 53. Daily use of more than 500 milligrams of acetaminophen raised the risk of high blood pressure by 93% in women in the older age group and by 99% in younger women.

This study clarified that it is the painkillers and not the headaches that women are trying to treat that cause high blood pressure.

Learn more by reading the WebMD article, Common Pain Drugs Up High Blood Pressure Risk, or the journal article abstract, Non-Narcotic Analgesic Dose and Risk of Incident Hypertension in US Women.