Paracetamol warning as drug raises heart attack and stroke risk after long-term use

Lead author Dr Iain MacIntyre, a pharmacologist from NHS Lothian, said: “This is not about short-term use of paracetamol for headaches or fever, which is, of course, fine.

“But it does indicate a newly discovered risk for people who take it regularly over the longer term, usually for chronic pain."

Professor James Dear, another pharmacologist involved in the study, said: “This study clearly shows paracetamol – the world's most used drug – increases blood pressure, one of the most important risk factors for heart attacks and strokes.

“Doctors and patients together should consider the risks versus the benefits of long-term prescription, especially in patients at risk of cardiovascular disease.”