Re: Common Painkillers Can Raise Blood Pressure: Study

On 26 Feb, 16:39, William Wagner <not-to-here-william...@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Bill who takes aspirin daily and has High BP thought this was
interesting. Sort of damed if you do damed if you don't.

......................

http://online.barrons.com/article/ON-CO-20070226-812585.html?mod=9_00...
jbn_home

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2007 4:10 p.m. EST

DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

By Val Brickates Kennedy

BOSTON (Dow Jones) -- Older men who frequently use three of the most
popular over-the-counter pain relievers face a heightened risk of
developing high blood pressure, a new medical study shows.

According to researchers at Boston's Brigham & Women's Hospital, the
study showed that men who frequently took such widely used pain killers
as aspirin, ibuprofen and acetaminophen had up to a 38% increased risk
of developing high blood pressure.

"This is important because acetaminophen, ibuprofen and aspirin are the
three most commonly used drugs in the U.S., and high blood pressure
affects about 60 million Americans," said the hospital's Dr. John
Forman, author of the study, in an e-mail interview. "High blood
pressure is one of the leading causes of heart disease and death."

Forman said he did not want to comment on whether the Food and Drug
Administration should have the drugs carry warning labels advising of
the risk, stating that was a public-policy issue.

The study found the highest risk was associated with a group of pain
relievers known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs,
which include ibuprofen and naproxen. Ibuprofen is also marketed under
the brand names Advil, Motrin and Nuprin. Naproxen can be found under
the names Aleve and Naprosyn.

Men who used NSAIDs six or seven times a week showed a 38% increased
risk of developing hypertension, the researchers found.

Acetaminophen users had the next highest risk, with an increased
hypertension rate of 34% when the drug was used six to seven times a
week. Acetaminophen is also marketed under the brand names Tylenol and
Panadol.

Acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs already have
warnings advising caution when taken by patients who drink three or more
alcoholic drinks per day.

Aspirin, which is commonly prescribed to patients at risk of suffering a
heart attack because of its blood-thinning properties, also carried a
risk. Men who used the medication six to seven times a week exhibited a
26% increased risk of developing high blood pressure.

The results were based on an analysis of data collected from 2000
through 2004 on men with a median age of 65 and no history of
hypertension who were taking the medications. Of the 16,031 men
analyzed, 1,968 developed high blood pressure. The data is part of a
larger ongoing study started by the hospital in 1986 that is tracking
the health patterns of male medical professionals.

Any elevation can be harmful

The study did not measure to what degree the men's blood pressure was
raised or whether the symptoms subsided once they stopped taking the
drugs, said Forman.

"That being said, it is well established that even small increases in
blood pressure translate into significant increases in risk of
cardiovascular death and disease," said Forman. "Therefore, 'slightly'
elevated blood pressure is also dangerous."

Despite the findings, Forman noted that the drugs are still a valuable
medical option.

"While we are highlighting certain potential risks, these medications
also have benefits, including pain control, and in the case of aspirin
for some people, reduction in heart-attack risk," said Forman.

"Patients and their clinicians should make informed choices," Forman
added.

Results of the study will be published in the Feb. 26 issue of the
Archives of Internal Medicine, a publication of the American Medical
Society. The research was funded by the American Heart Association and
the National Institutes of Health.

--

S Jersey USA Zone 5 Shade
http://www.ocutech.com/ High tech Vison aid
This article is posted under fair use rules in accordance with
Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, and is strictly for the educational
and informative purposes. This material is distributed without profit.

This is simply amazing. I thought everyone already knew that even 81
mg a day raised blood pressures measurably. How can it be new news?


.

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