Using painkillers opens the door to high blood pressure

• The pills in your medicine cabinet may be raising your blood pressure.
• Women who take a lot of acetaminophen (Tylenol) have nearly twice the risk of high blood pressure as those who don't use the drug.
• Those who take a lot of ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve) up their risk by as much as 78%.
• The study did not link aspirin to high blood pressure in women.
• However, there was a trend toward more high blood pressure in women who frequently used aspirin.
• The findings come from two studies that collected detailed information on more than 5,000 registered nurses aged 34 to 77.
• Harvard researcher John P. Forman, MD, says the findings mean women should think twice about taking common pain relievers.
• "We are by no means suggesting that women with chronic pain conditions not receive treatment for their pain," Forman tells WebMD.
• "These medications, by virtue of their availability over the counter, are viewed as being safe or without risk.
• By pointing out risks associated with these drugs, [we hope] more informed choices can be made by women and their doctors."
• In earlier studies, Forman's team found a link between the use of common painkillers and high blood pressure.
• However, it wasn't clear whether one major reason for taking the drugs -- headache -- was itself behind the link to high blood pressure.
• The current study finds that whether or not a woman suffered from headaches, the drugs still increased her risk of high blood pressure.
• The study, which appears in the September issue of Hypertension, lumped ibuprofen, naproxen, and similar drugs into a single category: NSAIDs.
• Daily use of more than 500 milligrams of acetaminophen raised the risk of high blood pressure by 93% in older women and by 99% in younger women.