{"id":16813,"date":"2023-01-04T12:31:47","date_gmt":"2023-01-04T12:31:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/health.theemtspot.com\/?p=16813"},"modified":"2026-04-11T19:53:38","modified_gmt":"2026-04-11T19:53:38","slug":"can-cold-medicine-raise-blood-pressure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theemtspot.com\/health\/can-cold-medicine-raise-blood-pressure\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Cold Medicine Raise Blood Pressure?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-larger-font-size\"><strong>Quick Summary<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul style=\"--ek-bullet-color:#ea4474\" class=\"is-style-connected has-list-bullet-color wp-block-list\">\n<li>You should be careful about taking cold medicine if you have high blood pressure. Some cold medicines can raise your blood pressure.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Over-the-counter cold remedies such as decongestants may cause your blood pressure to rise.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Decongestants work by relieving nasal stuffiness by narrowing blood vessels. As a result, they may also affect other blood vessels, which can increase BP.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>When you can have a common cold, you may think having a few over-the-counter medicines may help you feel better. However, you may need to practice caution if you have<em> preexisting conditions such as hypertension<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most cold medicines, such as decongestants, work by <strong>narrowing blood vessels<\/strong> to relieve the nose. The active ingredients in cold medicine, such as pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine, are vasoconstrictors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means they narrow the blood vessels, which can increase blood pressure. If you have high BP, you should <strong>check with your doctor<\/strong> before taking any cold medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Always have a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theemtspot.com\/health\/blood-pressure\/monitors\/\" class=\"ek-link\">reliable BP measuring device<\/a> at home to track your health. Keep reading to learn how cold medicine can raise your blood pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"rtex-highlighter-1\"><a><\/a>How Does Cold Medicine Raise Blood Pressure?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The most common cold medicines contain decongestants, which can cause an increase in blood pressure. This is because decongestants work by narrowing the blood vessels, which can raise blood pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>narrowing of the vessels<\/strong> in the nose due to decongestants may help reduce swelling and congestion. However, this effect may also occur in other blood vessels. This may cause an increase in blood pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you already have hypertension, monitor it with a reliable <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theemtspot.com\/health\/blood-pressure\/chart\/\" class=\"ek-link\">blood pressure chart<\/a>. <strong>Avoid <\/strong>decongestants and <strong>multisymptom targeting cold medicine<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a>Decongestants to avoid<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Check your cold medicine for these ingredients. Closely check if there&#8217;s a<strong> high sodium content<\/strong> in medicines that may raise your blood pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Always consult a healthcare professional before taking medicines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul style=\"--ek-bullet-color:#ea4474\" class=\"has-list-bullet-color wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pseudoephedrine<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ephedrine<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Phenylephrine<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Naphazoline<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Oxymetazoline<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"rtex-highlighter-1\"><a><\/a>How To Manage Cold When You Have Hypertension<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have hypertension, you need to be careful when managing your cold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a>Pick the right medication<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Some cold medications can raise your blood pressure. That&#8217;s why it&#8217;s essential to choose a cold medication designed for people with high blood pressure. There are several cold medications on the market that don&#8217;t contain <strong>decongestants<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Decongestants can raise blood pressure, so it&#8217;s best to avoid them if you have hypertension. Painkillers containing <strong>naproxen sodium<\/strong> may raise blood pressure, so <strong>avoiding <\/strong>them is better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, look for cold medications that don&#8217;t contain ingredients like <strong>nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory<\/strong> drugs. A painkiller will also work to <strong>relieve sore throat<\/strong>, headache, and body aches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You may take <strong>aspirin <\/strong>or <strong>acetaminophen<\/strong>. Try <strong>Coricidin HBP<\/strong> for the common cold, free from any decongestants. Besides, these drugs can help relieve pain and fever without raising blood pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a>Try nasal spray<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A <strong>saline nasal spray<\/strong> is a good alternative. The spray can help flush your sinuses. It&#8217;s also less likely to cause side effects than medicines that contain decongestants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Make sure you <strong>soothe your throat<\/strong> if it feels scratchy. <strong>Gargle with some salt water<\/strong> and drink warm water until you feel better. Try menthol and ginger <strong>lozenges<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a>Ride it out<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It turns out that sometimes it might be better just to ride out a cold rather than taking any additional, unnecessary harm by taking drugs that impact your blood pressure and heart health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That&#8217;s because <strong>colds are self-limited<\/strong>, meaning they will eventually go away. And while over-the-counter, (OTC) medications can help relieve some of the symptoms associated with a cold. They don&#8217;t actually speed up the recovery process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In fact, OTC drugs can sometimes do more harm. For example, decongestants can raise blood pressure and heart rate, while antihistamines can cause drowsiness and dry out your mucous membranes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This may make you <strong>more susceptible to bacterial infections<\/strong>. So next time you&#8217;re feeling under the weather, save yourself the trip to the pharmacy and just ride it out \u2013 your body will thank you for it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a>Natural remedies for cold<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There are many different natural remedies for colds that you can try at home. Some of the most <strong>effective home remedies<\/strong> include drinking plenty of fluids, resting, and using a humidifier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Drinking fluids<\/strong> is vital because it helps to thin mucus and prevent dehydration. Water, herbal tea, and chicken soup are the best fluids to drink when you have a cold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rest is also crucial when trying to recover from a cold. You may also take blood pressure-reducing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theemtspot.com\/health\/blood-pressure\/supplements\/\" class=\"ek-link\">supplements<\/a> to support your health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sleeping helps your body to heal and gives your immune system a chance to fight off the infection. <strong>Using a humidifier<\/strong> can also be helpful as it can help to moisturise the air and reduce congestion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Avoid caffeine <\/strong>and <strong>alcohol<\/strong>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theemtspot.com\/health\/dehydration-and-blood-pressure-whats-the-connection\/\" class=\"ek-link\">which may dehydrate your body<\/a>. Another popular home remedy for colds is honey. It has <strong>antibacterial <\/strong>and <strong>anti-inflammatory<\/strong> properties that may help relieve sore throat and ease coughing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Add <strong>honey <\/strong>to <strong>hot tea<\/strong> or take it with a spoonful. You can also use honey to make homemade cough syrup by mixing it with lemon juice and warm water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cold weather can aggravate cold symptoms, so it&#8217;s important to <strong>dress warmly<\/strong> when you go outside. Meanwhile, note down <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theemtspot.com\/health\/blood-pressure\/readings\/\" class=\"ek-link\">blood pressure readings<\/a> to see if it&#8217;s in control or if you further need medical attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"rtex-highlighter-1\"><a><\/a>Conclusion<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You should be careful about taking cold medicine if you have high blood pressure. Some of the ingredients in cold medicine can raise blood pressure. These include <strong>pseudoephedrine<\/strong>, <strong>ephedrine<\/strong>, and <strong>phenylephrine<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Call your doctor if you take cold medicine and your blood pressure goes up. Ideally, <strong>avoid taking over-the-counter<\/strong> cold medicines as they <em>may do more harm than good<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Learn how to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theemtspot.com\/health\/blood-pressure\/how-to-take\/\" class=\"ek-link\">check your blood pressure at home<\/a> to get an <strong>accurate reading<\/strong>. Try herbal remedies and eat healthy food that builds immunity and relieves cold symptoms.<\/p>\n\r\n\t\t\t<div id=\"daexthefu-container\"\r\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"daexthefu-container daexthefu-layout-side-by-side daexthefu-alignment-left\"\r\n\t\t\t\tdata-post-id=\"16813\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefu-feedback\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefu-text\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"daexthefu-title\">Was this helpful?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefu-buttons-container\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefu-buttons\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefu-yes daexthefu-button daexthefu-button-type-text\" data-value=\"1\">\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefu-button-text\">Yes<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefu-no daexthefu-button daexthefu-button-type-text\" data-value=\"0\">\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefu-button-text\">No<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefu-comment\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefu-comment-top-container\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<label id=\"daexthefu-comment-label\" class=\"daexthefu-comment-label\"><\/label>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefu-comment-character-counter-container\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"daexthefu-comment-character-counter-number\"\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"daexthefu-comment-character-counter-number\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefu-comment-character-counter-text\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<textarea id=\"daexthefu-comment-textarea\" class=\"daexthefu-comment-textarea\"\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tplaceholder=\"Type your message\"\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tmaxlength=\"\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t400\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"><\/textarea>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefu-comment-buttons-container\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"daexthefu-comment-submit daexthefu-button\">Submit<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"daexthefu-comment-cancel daexthefu-button\">Cancel<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefu-successful-submission-text\">Thanks for your feedback!<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Did you know that cold medicine can raise blood pressure? Learn how cold medicines may worsen hypertension and how to manage cold and hypertension together.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":16817,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_helpful_status":1,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[598],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16813","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-medications"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theemtspot.com\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16813","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theemtspot.com\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theemtspot.com\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theemtspot.com\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theemtspot.com\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16813"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.theemtspot.com\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16813\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":538574,"href":"https:\/\/www.theemtspot.com\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16813\/revisions\/538574"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theemtspot.com\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16817"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theemtspot.com\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16813"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theemtspot.com\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16813"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theemtspot.com\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16813"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}