Can taking NSAIDs for arthritis increase risk for heart disease?

Many people take medications for both heart disease and arthritis. Typically, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used to relieve the pain and inflammation of arthritis. This class of medications includes aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), and celecoxib (Celebrex). Celebrex carries a warning because it has been linked to an increased risk of having a heart attack or stroke.

Emerging research suggests that most NSAIDs, not just Celebrex, increase risk for heart attacks and strokes. Ibuprofen and diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), for example, also appear to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. An exception is low-dose aspirin, which helps prevent blood clots but may also increase risk for gastrointestinal bleeding. Naproxen does not appear to increase cardiovascular risk, but it also does not protect against heart attacks, as it was once thought to do. When taken routinely, NSAIDs also increase the risk of developing high blood pressure.