Hypertension

Hypertension is a condition that currently affects many men and women, particularly as they age. Quite frequently following diagnosis by a physician, a person with this condition will be instructed to take a daily dosage of low dose aspirin. This type of medication has been used for some time now for people at risk for heart disease or a heart attack. That is because hypertension has been linked to an increased risk of stroke and heart attack. There has been updated research on the efficacy of aspirin for the treatment of this condition and some possible caveats regarding the timing of the dosage.

While it has been thought for some time that aspirin lowered blood pressure, there seems to be some evidence emerging that it actually increases the risk of onset hypertension, particularly in men. Those taking that kind of prescription in a similar frequency had a 26% increase in the incidence of high blood pressure. Another study done in Spain, testing people with pre-hypertension showed that the pills taken in the evening was more effective in lowering the blood pressure than when it was taken in the morning. It would appear that a person's circadian rhythms should be considered when using aspirin as a treatment for any stage of this illness.

The new information would suggest that more consideration should be given regarding the use of painkillers for the treatment of high blood pressure. It may be putting people at risk for a bigger problem down the road. Perhaps other options should be considered as the first line of defense before taking these over the counter pain medication products.

In a studied supported by the American Heart Association, results were shown that supported the theory that these pain medications caused a rise in blood pressure. The study was done using males with the average age of 64.6 without any history of hypertension. Four years later when the subjects were retested there was a significant increase in the incidence of high blood pressure. Daily, or near daily use of aspirin and other non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs raised blood pressure in a significant number of participants. The incidence was actually higher in those with lower body weight index than for those with a higher index.

Warnings have been placed on many products by the FDA since early 2005 suggesting that they increase the risk of cardiovascular problems when used on a regular basis. Aspirin, however, was not included in this warning as it was considered to be of benefit to those with a risk for heart disease. Research has now shown that this may not be the case after all. There may be cause to reconsider all painkillers as studies reveal their likelihood of increasing the risk of hypertension in those who take these medications regularly.

More studies are needed to confirm these results, but perhaps we should also begin to look more closely at the medical problems that are being treated with these products, rather than simply treating the symptoms.