Wednesday, August 22, 2007

BP Tip#9

Tip #9 - Beware of blood-pressure & pain reliever mix.

Did you know that extended use of some over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers like Advil may interfere with some high blood-pressure medications and even elevate blood-pressure?

The pain relievers of concern belong to a group known as Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs or NSAIDs, These drugs work by blocking the body's production of prostaglandins, substances which play a role in inflammation and fever.

The problem is that by blocking prostaglandin production, NSAID pain relievers may prevent your blood-pressure medication from working properly. In addition, NSAIDs themselves may increase blood-pressure and can cause salt and water retention in the body.

What can be done about it?

Tylenol and other pain relievers that have acetaminophen as the active ingredient may be less problematic. Acetaminophen has not been shown to have any negative effects on blood-pressure medications. In any case, be sure to talk to your doctor before using any OTC pain reliever for more than 10 days. Be SMART about the medications you take and their effect on your body. To view the blood-pressure specific website of Tylenol Click Here.

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