New Study Links Daily Painkillers To Increased Hypertension In Women

A new study of women taking a daily dose of non-aspirin painkillers showed that their risk of high blood pressure increases by as much as two times.

The study involved 5,123 women participating in the Nurses Health Study at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.  None of them had high blood pressure when the study started.

Women aged 34-77 who took an average daily dose of more than 500 milligrams of acetaminophen (one extra-strength Tylenol) had double the risk of developing high blood pressure within three years.

Women 51-77 who took more than 400 mg daily of other non-aspirin painkillers such as ibuprofen (Advil and Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve) had a 78% increased risk of developing high blood pressure over those who did not take the drugs. Those women aged 34-53 taking the same drugs had a 60% increased risk.

Aspirin was not found to raise the risk of high blood pressure.