The new study, however, echoed the findings found in women.

The researchers looked at 16,031 male health professionals without a history of hypertension. The participants provided information about their use of acetaminophen (such as Tylenol), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen and naproxen), and aspirin. The men, with an average age of 64.6 years, were followed for four years, with 1,968 of them developing hypertension

Those who used acetaminophen six to seven days a week had a 34 percent higher risk of hypertension than men who did not use the drug. Similarly, men who took NSAIDs six or seven days a week had a 38 percent higher risk of hypertension, while those taking aspirin at this frequency had a 26 percent higher risk.

And compared with men who took no pills, those who took 15 or more pills each week had a 48 percent higher risk of hypertension.

All three painkillers may inhibit the effect of chemicals that would normally relax blood vessels and decrease blood pressure, the researchers said.

But more research on the subject needs to be done.

"We have now seen these associations in men and women," Curhan said. "The next steps include finding out if people stop these drugs after years of use, does their blood pressure decrease? Also, not everyone that takes these drugs develops hypertension. We need to identify those at highest risk."

More information  heart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4623