Blood pressure (BP) is the measure of the force that the heart uses to pump blood throughout the body. High blood pressure often occurs due to unhealthy lifestyle habits which include drinking too much alcohol, smoking, being overweight, and not training enough.
If left untreated, high blood pressure may increase the risk of developing serious and long-term diseases, including coronary heart disease. Naproxen is a medication that is used to relieve pain from conditions like muscle pain, dental pain, headache, etc.
In this article, we will learn about Naproxen and clarify “Does Naproxen Raise Blood Pressure”? So, let’s start with the definition of naproxen.
What is Naproxen?
Naproxen is used in the treatment of pain relief from conditions like headaches, dental pain, and muscle pain and also reduces swelling, pain, and joint stiffness.
There are two kinds of prescription naproxen: regular naproxen and naproxen sodium. Regular naproxen comes in three forms namely, oral delayed-release tablet, oral immediate-release tablet, and oral suspension (liquid mixture).
Naproxen sodium comes as an oral extended-release tablet and an oral immediate-release tablet, which is available as an OTC (over-the-counter) medicine.
How Does Naproxen Work in Our Body:
Naproxen works by reducing inflammation and pain in joints and muscles in our body and blocks the production of substances such as cyclooxygenase and prostaglandin that cause inflammation and pain. Naproxen pill relieves your body from pain in conditions like muscle cramps, and muscle and bone disorders like back pain, sprains, and strains.
How Blood Pressure Affects a Person:
High blood pressure can damage the arteries by making them less elastic, causing to decrease in the blood flow and oxygen to the heart, leading to heart diseases. It also leads to frequent migraines or headaches and generalized muscle aches and pain.
High blood pressure forces the heart to work harder to pump more blood to the body.
This leads the left ventricle to become thickened and enlarged. An enlarged and thickened left ventricle causes heart failure.
Does Naproxen Raise Blood Pressure in Individuals and Why?
Naproxen is a type of NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) and would not cause an increase in blood pressure when taken occasionally for headache or pain. However, if you take it on a daily basis, it can cause a hike in the blood pressure.
Naproxen can also make blood pressure drugs less effective. Combining this medicine with certain blood pressure drugs might damage your kidneys, especially if you are older than the age of 60 years. Some of these medications include:
ACE (Angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors, such as lisinopril (Zestril)
Beta-blockers, such as propranolol (Inderal LA) and metoprolol tartrate (Lopressor)
Angiotensin 2 receptor blockers, such as valsartan (Diovan) and losartan (Cozaar)
Diuretics, such as hydrochlorothiazide and furosemide (Lasix)
Naproxen may cause high blood pressure or make one’s blood pressure worse. It could also make blood pressure medication drugs less effective. Therefore, you may need to watch your BP while taking naproxen and other interaction drugs.
FDA Advisory:
The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) issued the following warnings to keep in mind while taking naproxen medication drug:
The FDA has issued boxed warnings for both patients and doctors about drug effects that may be dangerous.
The drug may cause ulcers and bleeding in the stomach and intestines. This can occur anytime during the treatment or even without symptoms. The effect can be life-threatening, and people older than the age of 65 years are at a much higher risk.
Taking naproxen for a long period or high dosages increases your risk of heart disease. People already suffering from high blood pressure are at a much greater risk of developing heart diseases. The medication must not be taken before or after heart bypass surgery, as doing so will increase the chances of a stroke or heart attack.
Conclusion:
In addition to taking medications, try practicing a healthy, balanced diet to help maintain blood pressure levels in your body. Also, try to take care of your mental health, as stress or anxiety may lead to an increase in blood pressure. Make a daily routine for working out to keep your body in shape, as being overweight is a major cause of an increase in BP.
Before taking naproxen, one must consult a licensed medical healthcare professional to get a proper diagnosis and recommendations according to your body’s tolerance.
Read more suggested pages…