The headline is too broad. There isn’t a standard list of five medications that simply “increase the risk of heart attack and stroke” in every older person. Medication risk depends heavily on the specific drug, dose, duration, medical conditions, and other medicines being taken.
Some medication groups that deserve particular attention in older adults include:
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NSAID painkillers such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and diclofenac. Long-term use can raise blood pressure and cause kidney problems; they also carry important gastrointestinal bleeding risks. They can be particularly problematic in people with heart failure or cardiovascular disease. PubMed Central (PMC)
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Aspirin when used for primary prevention. For some older adults who have never had cardiovascular disease, starting aspirin can cause more bleeding harm than cardiovascular benefit. However, aspirin may be appropriate for people who already have established cardiovascular disease, so it should not be stopped automatically. PubMed Central (PMC)
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Certain medications that worsen heart failure, including NSAIDs/COX-2 inhibitors, pioglitazone, and some other specific drugs. PubMed Central (PMC)
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Some medications can increase blood-pressure or rhythm-related risks in particular circumstances. The relevant risk depends on the person’s existing heart condition rather than simply their age.
The American Geriatrics Society’s Beers Criteria specifically emphasizes that potentially inappropriate medicines should be evaluated case by case, taking the person’s conditions, kidney function, drug interactions, and treatment goals into account. American Geriatrics Society+1
Don’t stop a heart or blood-pressure medication on your own. If you give me the five medications named in the article, I can explain what each one actually does to heart-attack/stroke risk and whether the warning is supported by evidence.
