Paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen, is one of the most popular medicines in the world. People use it every day to help with headaches, muscle aches, back pain, joint pain, and fever.
It is found in many over-the-counter pain relief products and is often chosen by people who are told to avoid stronger medications like ibuprofen or aspirin, especially if they have high blood pressure or heart problems. For a long time, paracetamol has been seen as a gentler and safer option. But a recent study has raised new concerns about its long-term use.
The study was carried out by researchers at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. They wanted to understand whether taking paracetamol regularly could affect blood pressure, especially in people who already had high blood pressure (also called hypertension). The research involved 110 people who had a history of high blood pressure.
These people were split into two groups. One group took paracetamol four times a day for two weeks. The other group took a placebo, which is a harmless pill with no real medicine inside it. After two weeks, the groups switched: the paracetamol group took the placebo and the placebo group took paracetamol.
When the researchers looked at the results, they found something surprising. The people who took paracetamol showed a noticeable increase in their blood pressure compared to when they were taking the placebo. This increase was not huge, but it was enough to raise concerns.
In fact, the rise in blood pressure was similar to what doctors often see when people take other painkillers like ibuprofen, which are known to raise the risk of heart disease and stroke.
This matters because millions of people around the world take paracetamol regularly, especially older adults who may already have heart issues or high blood pressure. If paracetamol also raises blood pressure, then it might not be as safe as we thought for long-term use in these people.
The lead researcher, Professor James Dear, said this discovery is important because doctors have long believed paracetamol was a safer choice. Now, they may need to think more carefully before recommending it for daily use over long periods of time.
However, this does not mean that everyone should stop taking paracetamol right away. If you take it occasionally for a headache or fever, there is no need to worry. The concern is mainly about people who take it every day for chronic pain, such as arthritis or long-term back pain.
If you are one of those people, it might be a good idea to talk to your doctor. They can help you decide whether you should continue taking paracetamol regularly or try a different option.
Also, there are other ways to manage pain and stay healthy. Regular exercise, eating healthy food, and managing stress can help reduce pain and improve heart health. In some cases, these habits may help lower the need for daily painkillers.
In the end, paracetamol is still a useful medicine for short-term pain relief. But this study shows that we need to be careful when using it every day, especially if we already have heart or blood pressure problems.
More research is needed to fully understand how paracetamol affects the body over time. Until then, it’s best to use it wisely and always speak with a doctor if you have concerns.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies that early time-restricted eating could help improve blood pressure, and natural coconut sugar could help reduce blood pressure and artery stiffness.
For more health information, please see recent studies about added sugar in your diet linked to higher blood pressure, and results showing vitamin D could improve blood pressure in people with diabetes.
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