What seniors over 60 should know about pain-relief pills and heart health
For older adults, the safest pain reliever isn’t necessarily the strongest one. Age, heart disease, blood pressure, kidney function, stomach health, and other medications all affect which option is appropriate.
1. NSAIDs deserve particular caution
Common NSAIDs include ibuprofen, naproxen, and diclofenac. These medicines can raise the risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure, increased blood pressure, kidney problems, and gastrointestinal bleeding, with greater concern when they’re used at higher doses or for longer periods. U.S. Food and Drug Administration+1
That doesn’t mean an older adult can never use an NSAID. Occasional use may be appropriate for some people, but someone with heart disease, heart failure, uncontrolled blood pressure, kidney disease, or a history of ulcers/bleeding should discuss it with a clinician first. www.heart.org+1
2. Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is different
Paracetamol (acetaminophen) doesn’t carry the same cardiovascular warning as NSAIDs and is often considered when an NSAID isn’t appropriate. However, it still needs to be used according to the label or clinician’s instructions because excessive amounts can cause serious liver injury. It’s also found in many combination cold, flu, and prescription products, making accidental double-dosing possible. U.S. Food and Drug Administration+1
3. Don’t automatically start daily aspirin
Aspirin is an important medicine for certain people who have already had a heart attack, ischemic stroke, or established cardiovascular disease. But starting daily aspirin simply because you’re over 60 isn’t automatically beneficial. It can cause serious bleeding, including bleeding in the stomach or brain. U.S. Food and Drug Administration+1
If you’ve been prescribed aspirin for cardiovascular protection, don’t stop it without speaking with your clinician.
4. Check the whole medication list
Older adults are more likely to take several medicines simultaneously. Combining an NSAID with aspirin, anticoagulants (“blood thinners”), steroids, or certain other medicines can substantially increase bleeding or other risks. U.S. Food and Drug Administration
There’s also a specific interaction worth knowing about: ibuprofen can interfere with aspirin’s heart-protective antiplatelet effect when taken together, so people taking prescribed aspirin should ask their clinician or pharmacist about appropriate timing and alternatives. U.S. Food and Drug Administration
A useful rule of thumb
Before regularly taking an over-the-counter painkiller after 60, ask:
“Do I have heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, stomach ulcers, or take aspirin/blood thinners?”
If the answer is yes, check with a healthcare professional before using an NSAID regularly.
And seek emergency care for new chest pressure/pain, severe shortness of breath, sudden weakness or difficulty speaking, vomiting blood, or black/tarry stools.
