Health
Long-term paracetamol use may be a risk for people with high blood pressure | Drugs
Long-term paracetamol use could increase the risk of heart disease and strokes in people with high blood pressure, a study suggests.
Patients who have a long-term prescription for the painkiller, usually used for the treatment of chronic pain, should opt for the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time, researchers say.
The University of Edinburgh studypublished in the scientific journal Circulation, is the first large randomized clinical trial to address the issue and complements earlier work in observational studies.
Paracetamol has often assumed to be a safer alternative to another class of painkillers called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, which have long been known to increase blood pressure and the risk of heart disease.
In the study, 110 patients with a history of high blood pressure were prescribed 1g of paracetamol four times a day – a routinely prescribed dose in patients with chronic pain – or a matched placebo for two weeks. randomised and blinded.
Those prescribed paracetamol had a significant increase in their blood pressure, compared with those taking the placebo. This rise was similar to that seen with NSAIDs, and might be expected to increase the risk of heart disease or stroke by about 20%, experts say.
The lead investigator, Dr Iain MacIntyre, a consultant in clinical pharmacology and nephrology at NHS Lothian, said: “This is not about short-term use of paracetamol for headaches or fever, which is, of course, fine – but it does indicate a newly discovered risk for people who take it regularly over the longer term, usually for chronic pain. ”
Prof James Dear, personal chair of clinical pharmacology at Edinburgh, added: “This study clearly shows that paracetamol – the world’s most used drug – increases blood pressure, one of the most important risk factors for heart attacks and strokes. Doctors and patients together should consider the risks versus the benefits of long-term paracetamol prescription, especially in patients at risk of cardiovascular disease. ”
The study found that after people stopped taking the drug, their blood pressure returned to what it was at the start of the study. Researchers said they did not have accurate numbers of the people in the UK who are on paracetamol long-term and have high blood pressure. But it is estimated that one in three adults in the UK have high blood pressure, increasing with age, while one in 10 people in Scotland – where the research was conducted – take paracetamol regularly.
There were limitations to the study. It involved only 110 people, it did not look at patients with chronic pain, and the results do not reveal anything specific about what might happen in people who did not have high blood pressure to begin with.
Prof Sir Nilesh Samani, the medical director at the British Heart Foundation, which funded the study, said the research showed “how quickly regular use of paracetamol can increase blood pressure in people with hypertension who are already at increased risk of heart attacks and strokes” ..
However, he also stressed: “If you take paracetamol occasionally to manage an isolated headache or very short bouts of pain, these research findings should not cause unnecessary concern.”
Sources 2/ https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/feb/08/long-term-paracetamol-use-may-be-a-risk-for-people-with-high-blood-pressure The mention sources can contact us to remove/changing this article |
What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos
to request, modification Contact us at Here or [email protected]