A little headache, a hangover, muscle aches, a sore menstruatie…Er should not be much going on, and we grab the pain-relieving miracle cure: a paracetamol. Taking an occasional pill may not hurt, but a new study in 110 patients shows that those who take paracetamol for a long time may have a greater risk of heart problems and strokes. This is according to a study by the University of Edinburgh published in the scientific journal Circulation.
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By Editorial Online
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Paracetamol has long been thought to be a safer alternative to other pain relievers such as ibuprofen, which is known to increase blood pressure and the risk of cardiovascular disease. The groundbreaking study by the University of Edinburgh now paints a more nuanced picture. They examined 110 patients who suffered from high blood pressure and gave them 1 gram of paracetamol or a placebo four times a day for two weeks. These include patients with chronic pain. All 110 people underwent both treatments, in no particular order.
Heart attack risk
What turned out? The people who were prescribed paracetamol saw a marked increase in their blood pressure compared to those who received the placebo. The increase is similar to the effects of ibuprofen. The high blood pressure would increase the risk of cardiovascular disease or stroke by 20%. When the patients stopped taking paracetamol after two weeks, the blood pressure returned to its normal level.
Iain MacIntyre, the lead researcher, explains in The Guardian that short-term use of paracetamol is not a problem. Especially those who take such a pill for a long period run a higher risk. The researchers at the University of Edinburgh say they see a clear link between paracetamol use and increased blood pressure, one of the main risk factors for heart attacks and strokes.
Further research
Nevertheless, further research is still needed. The study focused on only 110 people and only looked at patients who had elevated blood pressure from the start.
