BEIJING, August 16 -- US reserchers find that women who take higher doses of common, over-the-counter painkillers such as ibuprofen and even Tylenol have higher blood pressure than women who do not.

    The findings add to a growing list of research that suggests all painkillers, prescription and non-prescription, carry health risks and should be used carefully.

    The study, which looked at the medical records of more than 5,000 women -- aged 34 to 77 -- for up to eight years, found that those who took 500 milligrams or more of acetaminophen daily were twice as likely to develop high blood pressure as women who did not take the drug, according to the report in the Aug. 16 issue of Hypertension.

    Older women, aged 51 to 77, who took an average of 400 milligrams of ibuprofen a day were 80 percent more likely to develop high blood pressure than older women who did not take the drug. And younger women (aged 34 to 53) who took those daily doses were 60 percent more likely to develop high blood pressure, according to the study.

    Harvard researcher John P. Forman who led the study says the findings mean women should think twice about taking common pain relievers.

    Interestingly, the researchers did not find that aspirin increased women's chances of developing hypertension.

    Dr. Clarence Grim, a professor of clinical medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin, and an expert on high blood pressure, said, "This is another thing we need to add to the list of items that raise blood pressure, at least for women."

    He had some advice for people who take the painkillers frequently: "Be sure to tell your physician if you are taking them every day, and be sure to keep an eye on your blood pressure. Even small changes in blood pressure can be very significant."

    (Agencies)