I’ve been studying the effects of ibuprofen for fun and I’ve come across an apparent contradiction. Ibuprofen prevents or inhibits blood clotting, which should lower blood pressure, but at the same time it’s supposed to increase blood pressure over time. By what mechanism does this occur?
It constricts flow to the kidneys. When the kidneys get less blood, they start to think that the person is bleeding and needs to conserve salt and water. When the kidneys conserve salt and water, they (over time) increase blood pressure. The effect could take several days.
The system that regulates blood pressure over long periods of time via the kidneys is called the Renin Angiotensin Aldosterone system.
