Can aleve increase your blood pressure?

Are you a fan of popping pills like they’re candy? Do you enjoy the occasional stiff drink? Well then, have we got some news for you! It turns out that your beloved Aleve may be causing more harm than good. That’s right folks, there are rumors swirling around that this miraculous pain reliever could actually be raising your blood pressure. So what’s the deal? Can Aleve truly increase your blood pressure or is it just another myth?

Aleve 101

Before we dive into whether or not Aleve can raise your blood pressure, let’s get to know this little drug a bit better.

What Is Aleve

Aleve, also known as naproxen sodium (because apparently one name wasn’t enough), is an over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug or NSAID for short. Basically, that means it helps relieve pain and inflammation by blocking enzymes in your body called COX-1 and COX-2.

How Does Aleve Work

Good question! See when you experience any sort of injury or inflammation, chemicals called prostaglandins are released into your bloodstream. These pesky things are responsible for all sorts of unpleasantness such as swelling, fever, and pain. By blocking those aforementioned COX enzymes which help produce prostaglandins,you experience less discomfort overall.

The Dosage Game

Like most drugs on the market today,Aleve comes with its own set of dosage instructions.Your friendly neighborhood pharmacist will tell you how often to take it depending on why you need it.For instance if You’ve Whiplash from Snapping Your Neck After Hearing Some Gossip About Karen at The Supermarket taking A Few Tablets every so often ,you’ll want to follow his advice to ensure maximum relief without risking any negative side effects.And yes -negative side effects do exist,which leads us to the crux of today’s topic.

Blood Pressure And How It Relates To Aleve

Now, at this point you may be thinking “Okay pal but what does my blood pressure have to do with anything?” Well,the answer is everything. See,because Aleve works by blocking those COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes we talked about earlier,it can interfere with your body’s ability to regulate sodium levels.Ah yes,sodium -that pesky little mineral that plays a huge role in fluid balance as well as vasoconstriction aka the narrowing of your blood vessels (This is where those come into play;did anyone else learn about vasoconstriction in school or was it just me?).When you take doses higher than recommended or use Aleve for an extended period,you’re jeopardizing your kidneys’ ability to properly excrete sodium.This influx of excess sodium causes water retention which essentially raises your overall blood volume thus raising the pressure within your arterial walls.And voila! You’ve got yourself some high blood pressure.

” Gee buttercup,that doesn’t sound so bad. I’m sure I’ll be able to handle a tiny bit of hypertension like any other superhero”

Alright listen up because we’re not done yet.That small risk factor might turn out not so small after all because when left unchecked for long periods,your risky behavior could result in serious cardiovascular diseases.

To Summarize

So let’s summarize,Aleve interferes with kidney function regarding regulation of salt.Increased intake of Na+ molecules causes water retention resulting in higher volumes.The increase shifts towards systemic circulation leading to high BP.If taken chronically,this process can lead towards development secondary health conditions such as myocardial infarction and stroke.So heed caution!

Who Is Most At Risk?

If you’re already dealing with pre-existing issues such coronary artery disease or hypertension,you’re already at a higher risk factors front any NSAIDs,including Aleve could increase your blood pressure even if you take the recommended doses.But don’t go thinking that us otherwise healthy folks are off the hook!Oh no my friends,the “healthy” among us have our own set of risks to worry about.

The Elderly Puzzle

Let’s start with older adults because let’s face it -the world loves making things more complicated for them.The elderly often experience decreased renal function which means their bodies aren’t as good at excreting sodium.Add Aleve to the mix and…well….you can see how this might not end well.(So that was another one of those moments.Just keeping count)

Other Heightened Risk Parties

Pregnant women also need to be cautious (Jeez Louise,it never freaking ends does it!). High blood pressure during pregnancy can put both mother and baby in danger.For all of you soon-to-be dads out there,this is why we get complained about Sore Boobs along with bloating.These exciting changes’ expose us  to harms from naproxen)and so recommendation must be made by a doctor beforehand especially given its propensity towards rapid absorption. Other groups at an increased risk include people on sodium restricted diets,end-stage kidney disease patients,and anyone dealing with congestive heart failure.

How To Minimize The Risks

Now,pain relief isn’t exactly something most people are willing to give up completely. What do you mean I should just endure my headache like some sort of medieval martyr?! That being said,there are ways to still use Aleve safely while minimizing any potential blood pressure spikes.

Follow Directions Cuz Duh…

First and foremost follow those dosage instructions! Seriously,is that too much to ask? Your pharmacist spent years studying this stuff,it’s safe to say he knows a bit more than you do.Even if You think that 8 Tablets is the magical number,Don’t!Just take whichever works best in consultation with your pharmacist (<– another moment there).

Keeping An Eye On Blood Pressure

This one should go without saying,but keep tabs on your blood pressure.Regular checks at home or visits to your doctor can help spot any changes early so that any necessary adjustments can be made. Plus,you’ll have an excuse to freak out about even more things!

Seek Alternative Aids

If you know ahead of time that Aleve might not be the safest choice for you,talk to your doc.He may prescribe something else entirely,alternatively tell Ya Mom about the humor this writer penned down and She could give some empeirogenic transmutation(that was just me showing off my vocab-😉)

The Bottom Line:Should You Keep Taking Aleve?

At this point,the answer depends on whether or not you’re willing to accept the risks involved.Yes,Aleve (and NSAIDs as a whole) comes with risks but when taken properly,the benefits often outweigh them.If don’t fit into high risk categories,it’s probably safe enough.However once hypertension sets up ongoing issues like heart-related problems.Now I’m pretty sure those are much worse than dealing with mild discomfort every now and again.

In conclusion :Take proper care !And if all hope fails,don’t worry -you’ll always have ice cream….and Netflix…and perhaps pan roast lamb chops.That last part might’ve been unnecessary,but I stand by it nonetheless.

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