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Are you addicted to paracetamol for headaches or fever? You must be wondering why this question is being asked.
This is due to a recent study on the use of paracetamol, which found that patients with high blood pressure or hypertension were more likely to have a heart attack if they took a paracetamol pill.
According to a recent study by researchers at the University of Edinburgh, cardiologists should consider the advantages and disadvantages of this drug before giving it to patients for a long time.
But if this medicine is being used only for headaches or fever then there is no danger in it.
But there are some experts who believe that research into the effects of this drug on more people over a longer period of time is necessary to confirm the results of this study.
Can Paracetamol Be Harmful To Health?
It should be noted that paracetamol is the most commonly used painkiller in the world. But the drug is also given for long-term discomfort or pain, although there is little evidence that it is beneficial for a longer period of time.
How common is this medicine? An example of this is that in a country like Scotland, one in ten people were given paracetamol for pain in 2018.
But according to recent research, if a person has high blood pressure, which is usually one in three people in the UK, the use of this drug can be harmful to their health.
The study assisted 110 volunteers, about two-thirds of whom were using the drug for high blood pressure or hypertension.
Those Who Took Paracetamol Had Higher Blood Pressure
During a recent research trial, these individuals were asked to take one gram of paracetamol four times a day for two weeks.
This dose is usually given for chronic pain. These individuals were given dummy pills for the next two weeks after using paracetamol for the first two weeks, ie an empty pill that did not contain paracetamol.
Professor James Deere, a clinical pharmacologist in Edinburgh, said the results of the trial showed that paracetamol increased blood pressure compared to an empty pill, which increased the risk of heart attack and stroke.
According to researchers involved in the trial, doctors should initially prescribe low doses of paracetamol to patients and keep a close eye on patients with heart disease or high blood pressure.
Arthritis or joint pain is also a major cause of long-term or chronic pain in the UK. Versace arthritis, a charity, says safe medications are needed to treat pain, but other measures are also needed, such as mental health, including exercise and the motivation to stay active, to stay fit and strong. To help with problems
Dr. Benjamin Ellis is a consultant rheumatologist at the charity. According to them, if you have concerns about the risks or effects of pain medication, it is best to consult a specialist so that they can help you and give you better advice.
The study was led by Clinical Pharmacology Consultant Dr. Ann McIntyre. They say there is no risk of short-term use of paracetamol for headaches or fever.
Not Much Is Clear Yet
Commenting on the study, Dr Dapinder Gul, a lecturer in clinical pharmacology at the University of London, said: Many things are still unknown.
He said that at first, it was not clear whether the increase in blood pressure noted would persist after prolonged use of paracetamol.
“Second, it cannot be said with absolute certainty whether the use of paracetamol can actually increase the risk of heart disease by raising blood pressure.”
Is Paracetamol Safe Or Unhealthy?
Earlier, an American study had found a link between long-term use of paracetamol and heart attack, but they could not prove the cause.
Subsequent small-scale investigations have also shown that prolonged use of paracetamol may increase the risk of heart disease or stroke.
According to the Edinburgh team, they cannot explain how paracetamol raised blood pressure, but their research suggests long-term use of the drug should be reconsidered.
Paracetamol was considered safer than non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, which were commonly thought to increase blood pressure.
The British Heart Foundation, which funded the study, said doctors and patients should regularly consider any medication that appears to be harmless, even if it is paracetamol. Yes or no
Dr. Richard Francis of the Stroke Association says that the benefits and harms of paracetamol can be ascertained through long-term research in healthy people whose blood pressure is normal.