High blood pressure is one of the most common health problems in the United States. Women are especially prone to high blood pressure. Pregnancy, birth control pills, menopause, and being overweight all contribute to hypertension. African-American women are more at risk than are white women.
These are commonly known risk factors. And a study of more than 80,000 women has added another risk factor: frequency of use of analgesics (over-the-counter pain medications). Analgesics can relieve pain and reduce fever and inflammation, but they also might contribute to hypertension.
Researchers looked at data from the Nurses Health Study II for women ages 31 to 50 who had no history of hypertension. When they identified use of aspirin, NSAIDs/ibuprofen (such as Advil), and acetaminophen (such as Tylenol), with the incidence of physician-diagnosed hypertension, researchers found that all three types of pain relievers were associated with increased risk of hypertension.
Use with Caution
Taking 22 doses or more per month of NSAIDs or acetaminophen approximately doubled a woman's risk of hypertension. Aspirin use did not significantly increase the risk.
Pain medications should be used sparingly as there can be other side effects. For example, heavy aspirin use is associated with stomach ulcers, and excessive use of acetaminophen can lead to liver damage. |
