Painkillers linked to stroke and heart attack

REGULARLY taking common painkillers and headache tablets can increase the risk of stroke and heart attack from higher blood pressure, a new report has warned.

A study of men who took paracetamol, aspirin or ibuprofen (the ingredient in Nurofen) six or seven days per week over the course of two years, found they were a third more likely to have high blood pressure.

Those who took 15 pills a week, regardless of what type, are 50 more likely than others to be diagnosed with high blood pressure or hypertension — which increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney failure.

The authors of the report, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, said: “Given their common consumption and the high prevalence of hypertension, our results may have substantial public health implications, and suggest that these agents be used with greater caution.”

Medical Director with the Irish Heart Foundation, Dr Brian Maurer, said: “Just because you don’t need a prescription for something it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have side-effects. If you need to take a painkiller frequently you should discuss it with your family doctor.”

But, he said, those who took painkillers frequently may be more likely to have high blood pressure in the first place: “People who have chronic pain and chronic illness are more likely to have higher blood pressure.

“All that has been shown here is that if you have to take painkillers regularly, you are more likely to be found to have high blood pressure. That doesn’t mean that taking painkillers is likely to cause high blood pressure. For example, many people with heart disease have to take aspirin. It is exceedingly unlikely that people taking low doses of aspirin will have increased blood pressure.”

He said people should not rush to stop taking any medication without consulting their doctor: “There are hundreds and thousands of people out there taking aspirin for heart disease and it would be most unwise for anybody who is doing so on the advice of their doctor to stop it.”

The findings could pose a problem for some arthritis sufferers who have been told to switch to over-the-counter painkillers because of fears of heart problems linked to some prescription drugs.

Consultant Rheumatologist at St Vincent’s Hospital, Professor Oliver Fitzgerald said: “There may not bee too many other options fr arthritis sufferers if they have pain and they have difficulty, they may have to take pain killers regularly to control their pain. But certainly patients who have rheumatoid arthritis should discuss other methods of controlling the pain with their doctor.”