Originally published April 3 2007
Painkillers found to cause hypertension
by David Gutierrez, staff writer
The three most commonly used medicines in the United States - the painkillers acetaminophen, ibuprofen and aspirin - were found to increase the risk of high blood pressure in middle-aged men in a new study published in the "Archives of Internal Medicine."
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What you need to know - Conventional View
• Researchers studied 16,031 male health professionals for four years. None of the men, who averaged 64.6 years old, had a history of hypertension.
• Men who took painkillers six to seven days a week had a substantially higher risk of developing hypertension than those who did not. Those who took acetaminophen had a 34 percent higher risk, those who took non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen had a 38 percent higher risk, and those who took aspirin had a 26 percent higher risk.
• Men who took 15 or more pills of any painkiller per week had a 40 percent higher risk of developing high blood pressure.
• Two previous studies have linked painkillers to a heightened risk of hypertension in women; however, another previous study found no correlation in men.
• Acetaminophen is most commonly known under the brand-name Tylenol, while ibuprofen is well known as Advil or Motrin IB.
• Quote: "People should be aware that these drugs have potential adverse effects.... I would recommend that individuals limit their use of these medications unless they are clearly indicated." - Senior Author Dr. Gary Curhan
What you need to know - Alternative View
Statements and opinions by Mike Adams, executive director of the Consumer Wellness Center
• The public is rarely warned about the serious risk of side effects from over-the-counter drugs. Pharmaceuticals are hyped as miracle solutions for treating health problems, but in reality, they only mask health symptoms while causing new health problems such as high blood pressure, cancer or liver toxicity.
Bottom line
• Regular use of painkillers can significantly increase a person's risk of high blood pressure.
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