Pain reliever safe for high blood pressure

When people have pain, they often take pain medicines called NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). These include:

• Advil and Motrin (generic and store-brand ibuprofen). Ibuprofen is also in other over-the-counter drugs, such as cold medicines.
• Aleve (generic and store-brand naproxen).
• Celebrex (generic celecoxib).

NSAIDs help ease pain and inflammation.

But if you have high blood pressure, heart failure, or kidney disease, you should not take an NSAID. And you should not take any drugs that have ibuprofen or another NSAID in them.

What are the risks?

NSAIDs are bad for your blood pressure.

NSAIDs can cause high blood pressure. And if you have high blood pressure, they can make it worse. This increases your chances of having a heart attack or a stroke.

NSAIDs can also keep some blood pressure drugs from working right. NSAIDs can interfere with:

• Diuretics, or water pills, such as apo-Hydro (generic hydrochlorothiazide).
• Diuretics remove excess water from the blood vessels.
• ACE inhibitors, such as Altace and Coversyl (generic ramipril and perindopril).
• ACE inhibitors are drugs that relax the blood vessels.
• ARBs such as Cozaar (generic losartan). ARBs are another group of drugs that relax the blood vessels.

NSAIDs are bad for your heart and kidneys.

Long-term use of NSAIDs can make your body hold onto fluid. This can worsen the symptoms of heart failure, such as shortness of breath, swollen ankles, and a rapid or irregular heartbeat. NSAIDs can also keep the kidneys from working well. This makes taking NSAIDs risky for people who already have kidney disease.

Which painkillers can you use if you have heart or kidney disease?

There is no simple answer. The best painkiller to use depends on your health problems. It also depends on any other drugs you take. Be sure to tell your health care provider about any prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, or herbal medicines you take.

Over-the-counter Tylenol (generic acetaminophen) is often the best choice for people with high blood pressure, heart failure, or kidney problems.

• However, high doses of Tylenol can damage the liver, so take the lowest dose you can to get enough pain relief.
• Never take more than 4,000 milligrams (mg) a day. That’s equal to twelve 325 mg pills.

Managing pain without taking drugs

Non-drug treatments, such as yoga or massage, can often reduce or even replace the need for drugs. Here are some things you can try, depending on your kind of pain:

Back pain. Stay physically active. Walking is a good choice. Acupuncture, massage, physical therapy, and yoga can help reduce pain, too. And care from a chiropractor may help.

Headaches. Cut back on alcohol and avoid foods that trigger your headaches. This may help relieve pain. Exercise can help reduce stress that causes headaches. So can meditation, deep breathing, and other forms of relaxation therapy.

Osteoarthritis. Do low-impact exercise, such as walking, biking, and yoga. This can help ease pain and stiffness. Avoid high-impact activities, such as running or tennis. They can make your symptoms worse.

Fibromyalgia. Get regular exercise to help reduce pain and give you more energy. Tai chi— a form of exercise involving slow, gentle movements combined with deep breathing—is a good choice. Meditation can help with pain. So can a type of counseling called cognitive behavioural therapy.

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New survey commissioned by the American Heart Association found high blood pressure patients unsure of how to safely treat pain

DALLAS, Nov. 2, 2021 – While nearly half of U.S. adults have high blood pressure (HBP), only 29% think over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers may raise blood pressure, according to a recent survey commissioned by the American Heart Association, the leading voluntary health organization devoted to a world of longer, healthier lives for all.

According to the American Heart Association’s 2017 Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Management of High Blood Pressure, high blood pressure is defined as a consistent blood pressure measurement of 130 over 80 or higher. The guidelines also state that some OTC pain relievers may elevate blood pressure.  

While majority of adults in the general population, as well as people with high blood pressure, aren’t sure about the effect of OTC pain medicine on their blood pressure, only a little more than half of those diagnosed with high blood pressure, who take OTC pain relievers (53%) check with their doctor before taking this medicine.

“People who have high blood pressure or are being treated with blood pressure medication – along with their loved ones and caretakers – need to be informed about safe over-the-counter pain relievers,” said Willie Lawrence, Jr., M.D., interventional cardiologist, medical director for health equity, Spectrum Health in Benton Harbor, Michigan, and volunteer lead of the American Heart Association’s National Hypertension Control Initiative oversight committee.

“Because some pain relievers may cause elevated blood pressure, the American Heart Association recommends consulting your doctor or pharmacist and making sure you read the label before taking any over-the-counter medication for pain, especially if you’ve been diagnosed with high blood pressure.”

Conducted by The Harris Poll, the survey polled 2,013 U.S. adults aged 18 and older. Additional findings from the survey include:

• 38% of those with high blood pressure think over-the-counter pain relievers may raise blood pressure.
• Only 21% of U.S. adults know that acetaminophen does not raise blood pressure, and those with high blood pressure are only slightly more aware of this fact (28%).
• 39% of U.S. adults with high blood pressure report acetaminophen is the over-the-counter medication they take most often for pain.

• Only 10% of U.S. adults with HBP self-measure their BP multiple times a day and only 14% do so at least once a day.

In the U.S., high blood pressure is the No. 1 preventable cause of heart disease and stroke and second only to cigarette smoking as a preventable cause of death for any reason. Checking your blood pressure regularly at home with a validated blood pressure device for the most  accurate reading and working with your doctor on a plan to control it, is a proven way to manage your blood pressure.

For more information on managing high blood pressure, visit https://www.heart.org/bptools.

###

About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.   

About the Survey

This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of the American Heart Association from June 24-28,2021 among 2,013 U.S. adults ages 18 and older. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact Toiya Honoré, national director, communications, American Heart Association.

For Media Inquiries:

Toiya Honoré 

[email protected]; 214-706-1456

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

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