The next time a headache has you grabbing for that bottle of Aspirin, think twice. Over the counter painkillers may raise your risk of high blood pressure, according to a new study by scholars Harvard Medical School. While this doesn’t mean you should immediately throw them out, more than 40% of African Americans have high blood pressure (hypertension), and people who find themselves regularly popping painkillers should talk to their health care professional about alternative forms of pain relief.