Regular use of common painkillers might lead to high blood pressure and hypertension, according to a new study.

The study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, has found that middle-aged men who regularly use painkillers including acetaminophen, ibuprofen or asprin, appear to have a higher risk of developing high blood pressure.

The findings assume significance as some medical practitioners are recommending that their patients take small dozes of aspirin regularly.

The researchers looked at 16,031 male health professionals without a history of hypertension.

The participants provided information about their use of acetaminophen (such as Tylenol), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and naproxen), and aspirin.

The men, with an average age of 64.6 years, were followed for four years, with 1,968 of them developing hypertension.

Those who used acetaminophen six to seven days a week, had a 34 per cent higher risk of hypertension than men who did not use the drug.

Similarly, men who took NSAIDs six or seven days a week, had a 38 per cent higher risk of hypertension, while those taking aspirin at this frequency had a 26 per cent higher risk.

And compared with men who took no pills, those who took 15 or more pills each week had a 48 per cent higher risk of hypertension, the study found.

All three painkillers may inhibit the effect of chemicals that would normally relax blood vessels and decrease blood pressure, the researchers said adding, more research on the subject needed to be done.

Previously, two studies involving women had suggested that analgesics might be linked with an increased risk of hypertension, or high blood pressure.

Another study found that frequent use of painkillers, including NSAIDs, did not substantially increase a healthy man's risk of developing hypertension.

The new study, however, echoed the previous findings in women.

"We have now seen these associations in men and women," Gary Curhan, a researcher at Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston, said. "The next steps include finding out if people stop these drugs after years of use, does their blood pressure decrease? Also, not everyone that takes these drugs develops hypertension. We need to identify those at highest risk."

Suzanne Steinbaum, director of the Heart and Vascular Institute at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, was quoted as saying: "The thought was that medications like acetaminophen or NSAIDs, or even aspirin, would be safe. This particular study reveals that even these medications when taken regularly (greater than 15 pills per week) can actually increase blood pressure, which may eventually lead to heart disease. The study, quoted by HealthDay, says that these three painkillers are most commonly used in the United States including for minor pains."

"In fact, these classes of medications for pain are not as safe as we originally thought," he said. "People should be aware that these drugs have potential adverse effects," said Curhan.

"The risk of bleeding is well-known for aspirin and NSAIDs. I would recommend that individuals limit their use of these medications unless they are clearly indicated," Curhan said.