Paracetamol, also called acetaminophen, is one of the most popular medicines in the world. Many families keep it at home and use it for headaches, fever, tooth pain, joint pain, and body aches from colds or flu.
Doctors often suggest it because it is gentle on the stomach and is usually safer than some other pain drugs. People with high blood pressure are often told to choose paracetamol instead of medicines like ibuprofen, which can raise blood pressure and harm the heart when used for a long time.
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a very common condition. It means the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries is too strong. Over time, this extra pressure can damage blood vessels and organs, leading to heart disease, stroke, and kidney problems.
Because of these risks, people with hypertension are usually careful about the medicines they take. For many years, paracetamol was seen as a safe choice for them.
However, new research from the University of Edinburgh suggests the story may not be so simple. Scientists wanted to find out whether taking paracetamol every day for a long time could affect blood pressure. This question matters because many people with chronic pain take the drug daily for months or even years.
The study included 110 adults who already had a history of high blood pressure. The researchers divided them into two groups. One group took a normal dose of paracetamol four times a day.
The other group took a placebo, which looked the same but had no active medicine inside. Neither the participants nor the researchers knew who was in which group during the test. This type of study helps reduce bias and gives more reliable results.
After monitoring the participants for several weeks, the researchers noticed a clear difference between the two groups. People who took paracetamol had higher blood pressure than those who took the placebo.
The increase was not small. In fact, it was similar to the rise seen in people who take non‑steroidal anti‑inflammatory drugs, also known as NSAIDs. These drugs, such as ibuprofen, are already known to raise blood pressure and increase the risk of heart problems.
Based on these findings, the scientists estimated that long‑term use of paracetamol could raise the risk of heart disease or stroke by about 20 percent in people with hypertension.
This does not mean that everyone who takes paracetamol will develop heart trouble. It does suggest that regular daily use may not be completely risk‑free, especially for those who already have heart risks.
Professor James Dear, one of the main researchers, explained that the results are important because paracetamol has long been considered very safe. Since millions of people rely on it, even a small increase in risk could affect many lives. He said doctors and patients should think carefully about how often and how long the medicine is used.
Experts also remind people that pain can often be managed in other ways. Gentle exercise, physical therapy, better sleep, stress reduction, and healthy eating may reduce the need for daily pain medicine. Of course, these options do not work for everyone, and some people still need medication to function normally.
If you take paracetamol regularly, especially for chronic pain such as arthritis or back pain, it is wise to talk with your doctor. Do not stop taking it suddenly without medical advice. Your doctor can help decide the safest dose, suggest breaks from the medicine, or recommend other treatments if needed.
Paracetamol is still useful and effective for short‑term pain and fever. For occasional use, it remains a helpful tool in medicine. The new study simply reminds us that even common drugs should be used carefully, particularly when taken every day for long periods.
As research continues, scientists hope to better understand who is most at risk and how to protect people with high blood pressure. Until then, being informed and discussing concerns with a healthcare professional is the best way to stay safe while managing pain.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies about breakfast for better blood pressure management, and the gut feeling that lowers blood pressure.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how the dash diet helps lower blood pressure, and how to eat your way to healthy blood pressure.
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