Nearly half of all Americans about 3 out of 4 people aged 60 and older have high blood pressure. Unfortunately, 19% of people with hypertension are currently taking one or more medications that increase the risk of heart disease or stroke. Many of these are over-the-counter drugs. For instance, Ibuprofen and naproxen are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) which can increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke. The list of dangerous drugs is long, and includes products for cough, colds and flu, decongestants, weight-loss stimulants, antacids and even some herbal medicines and dietary supplements. We always recommend a “bag approach,†which includes putting all of your medications (including over-the-counter drugs) in a bag for your doctor to examine.
