Frequent Painkiller Use Linked With Higher Blood Pressure in Women

Research published in the Archives of Internal Medicine (October 28, 2002; 162:2204–2208) found that frequent use of common pain-relief medications may increase the risk of developing high blood pressure in women. The study examined several types of drugs, including NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and acetaminophen (Tylenol), which is not an NSAID but is widely used for pain relief.

NSAIDs reduce inflammation by blocking hormone-like compounds called prostaglandins. While some prostaglandins trigger inflammation, they also help dilate blood vessels. When prostaglandins are blocked, blood vessels can narrow, which may contribute to elevated blood pressure.

The study followed 80,000 women who did not have hypertension at the start. Researchers tracked how often they used aspirin, NSAIDs, and acetaminophen, then compared this to new cases of hypertension after two years.

Key findings:

  • Women who used NSAIDs 22 days or more per month had an 86% higher risk of developing high blood pressure.

  • Women who used acetaminophen that frequently were almost twice as likely to develop hypertension.

  • Aspirin did not show the same increased risk.

Researchers concluded that frequent use of pain medications may contribute significantly to hypertension rates in the United States.