Researchers attached to the University of Edinburgh have pointed out that people with high blood pressure who take paracetamol on prescription could be increasing their risk of heart attacks and strokes.

The study, which was conducted in 110 patients with a history of high blood pressure, revealed a significant increase in their blood pressure when compared with those taking a placebo.

Further studies revealed that the rise was similar to that seen with NSAIDS and might be expected to increase the risk of heart disease or stroke.

The study also found that after people stopped taking the drug, their blood pressure returned to what it was at the start of the study.

Meanwhile, the lead investigator and consultant of Clinical Pharmacology and Nephrology at NHS Lothian Dr Iain MacIntyre, noted that while short term use of paracetamol for the treatment of headaches and fever is fine, the long term use of the drug poses a different risk.

“This is not about the short-term use of paracetamol for headaches or fever, which of course is fine, but it does indicate a newly discovered risk for people who take it regularly over the longer term usually for chronic pain,” MacIntyre noted.

Personal Chair of Clinical Pharmacology at Edinburgh, Professor James Dear also added that this study clearly shows that paracetamol, the world’s most used drug, increases blood pressure which is one of the most important risk factors for heart attacks and stroke.

As such, Professor Dear proposes that doctors and patients together should consider the risk versus the benefits of long-term paracetamol prescription especially in patients at risk of cardiovascular diseases.