High Blood Pressure And Cold Remedies: Which Are Safe?

Which Decongestants Are Safe For High Blood Pressure:

Pregnant or breastfeeding people or have ulcers, asthma, or other underlying health conditions should consult a doctor before using OTC pain relievers.Learn more about pain and how to treat it here. Read the labels of all nonprescription products for warnings about high blood pressure and Consult Your Pharmacist if you have any questions. Thankfully, symptoms usually last no more than a week and a half. If you have continued congestion, it may be time to visit your doctor to explore treatment options that may be more effective.

That focus is sharpened by physical self-restraint ‘ most notably, by fasting from sunrise to sunset. Your prescription may be processed by any pharmacy within our family of Express Scripts mail-order pharmacies. The group also said that other effective alternative options would not be as easily accessible, a claim disputed by advisory committee members. For a complete list of side effects, please refer to the individual drug monographs. Keeping congestion from developing in the first place is one of the best ways to treat it.

If you have high blood pressure, it’s best to stay away from decongestants. Ask your health care provider about cold products available without a prescription that are made for people with high blood pressure. see post In addition, using nonprescription decongestant nasal sprays (Afrin, Dristan, others) for more than three or four days can cause even worse nasal congestion once the decongestant wears off (rebound rhinitis).

Taking a decongestant can temporarily ease congestion, but it can also create a slight increase in your blood pressure. If you already have high blood pressure, especially if it’s not controlled, this may be a concern. Decongestants also can interfere with the effectiveness of certain blood pressure medications.

People should consult a medical professional if they experience any side effects after taking NSAIDs. A person should speak with a doctor if they experience any of the above side effects. This article explores the best types of medication for congestion, the recommended dosage, and any precautions or side effects. You can add in strength training to make your muscles stronger and more efficient, as well as lower-intensity exercises like yoga, which can also help reduce stress. ‘Within four to six weeks of regular exercise, you can reduce your blood pressure by five to 10 milliliters,’ says Hafiz.

Your local pharmacist can also help manage nasal congestion symptoms, provide valuable information regarding safer alternatives, and ensure optimal drug selection in patients with high blood pressure. The American Heart Association recommends that you always read the labels of any over-the-counter medications if you have high blood pressure, even if your pressure is controlled with medications. The labels of most medicines containing decongestants include a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-required warning to consult with a doctor before using the medicine if you have high blood pressure.

When caused by a specific habit, condition, or medication, it is known as secondary hypertension. Hypertension is more common in those who smoke, the obese, and those with diabetes mellitus. Decongestants are used to reduce nasal stuffiness or congestion caused by allergies, the common cold or other infections.

One of the most serious warnings is found on medicines that should not be used in an unsupervised manner if you have high blood pressure. Overall, the findings suggest that a person who has hypertension or heart disease should avoid using NSAIDs to treat cold symptoms. People should talk to their doctor about other pain medications that may be safer. Some OTC get redirected here decongestants contain pseudoephedrine, a drug that works by constricting the blood vessels to reduce nasal swelling. But with those blood vessels narrowed, blood pressure increases. For the 122 million Americans with hypertension, decongestants can raise an already elevated blood pressure to dangerous levels and increase the chance of heart attack and stroke.

It is intended for general informational purposes and is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your physician or dial 911.

High blood pressure affects many different ages and body types, as well as both genders. It occurs in all races, although it is more common in African Americans. In some patients, the hypertension has no known or identifiable cause; this is called essential hypertension.

The study found that people with hypertension who took NSAIDs for an ARI were around three times more likely to have a heart attack. However, the authors noted that merely being sick can raise a person’s blood pressure and increase their risk of having a heart attack. Don’t take decongestants unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

While guaifenesin would probably not produce any adverse reactions in the asthmatic, its inclusion is puzzling at best. When decongestants are used as nasal sprays or drops, they act primarily in the nose. A small amount of decongestant will be absorbed from the nose into the bloodstream, but the quantity reaching other areas of the body is much less than with oral decongestants. Oxymetazoline (Afrin, Dristan), phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine), naphazoline (Privine) and propylhexedrine (Benzedrex) are nasal decongestants. The risk of increased blood pressure may be less with propylhexedrine than with the first 3 drugs. Many of them combine decongestants, cough suppressants, and pain relievers (which also reduce fever).

(adapted from Mayo Clinic Health Letter) ‘ Lisa Buss Preszler, Pharm.D., R.Ph., Mayo Clinic Pharmacy, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Do not stop taking any prescribed medications without discussing with your health care professional. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are drugs that help alleviate inflammation and pain. The NSAIDs ibuprofen (Advil) and image source aspirin are popular choices for easing the symptoms of a common cold. It’s not always obvious what pills and liquids on the pharmacy shelf contain decongestants. The next time you’re staring down the long shelves of the cough and cold aisle, look past the list of symptoms in bold letters and make sure you consider the active ingredients in the smaller print.