Surprisingly, This Drug is Linked to the Incidence of High Blood Pressure

Paracetamol medicine tablets on dark background

High blood pressure (HBP or hypertension) occurs when blood pressure, the force of blood pushing against blood vessel walls, is consistently too high.

This new study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology found that people who received acetaminophen had elevated blood pressure compared to others.

What defines high blood pressure?

A blood pressure of 140/90 or higher. It usually has no symptoms. It can also damage arteries and cause an increased risk of stroke, heart attack, kidney failure, and blindness. Also called hypertension.

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What is paracetamol?

Paracetamol is widely used to achieve low to moderate pain relief.

Also known as acetaminophen, it is also used to lower the high temperatures associated with the common cold and flu.

Although it is widely used, many times even without a prescription, health experts have always warned against its excessive consumption. High doses of acetaminophen are also toxic to the liver.

Now the current discovery has found a link between the drug and hypertension. This, however, requires immediate attention and a check on the senseless self-prescribing of this drug.

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What did the study find?

The study found that of the 172 participants, 73 percent of whom were men, those who had acetaminophen over the course of 2-3 weeks had higher blood pressure than the placebo group. This increase also observed in systolic blood pressure, while no significant change was observed in diastolic blood pressure.

Several studies have also warned against using this drug for those with cardiovascular risk factors

The study also warned that patients with pre-existing hypertension conditions or those with cardiovascular risk factors should be cautious while consuming the drug.

People with cardiovascular risk have always depended on acetaminophen as a safer alternative to aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen.

What are the various risk factors with cardiovascular disease?

Several factors that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease are:

Having diabetes
Have high BP
Regular smoking
Having high cholesterol
Overweight or obese
Having a history of cardiovascular disease among close family members
Not getting enough sleep
Living under tremendous stress
Lack of physical activity

Chinaza Ogbachalu

My name is Chinaza Ogbachalu, and I am a writer. I have been writing news and opinion articles for five years plus and have always had a passion for storytelling. I grew up in Nigeria and graduated from the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, with a degree in linguistics and communication studies. I have written books that have been well-received by critics and readers alike. My work often focuses on culture and lifestyle, and I draw inspiration from my own experiences and observations of the world around me. As a news writer, I am responsible for researching and writing engaging and accurate news stories for our online audience. I have a strong passion for current events and am skilled at conducting interviews and gathering information from sources. I am grateful for the support of my readers and am constantly humbled by their enthusiasm for my work. Thank you for taking the time to learn more about me and my writing.