Do allergy medications raise blood pressure?
Ah, allergies. One of the few things in life that make you wish for a robot body that doesn’t react to pollen like it’s some kind of existential threat. But lucky for you – we have an array of medications at our disposal just waiting to be ingested orally, nasal spray-ed or shot up into your system. And although these medicines can alleviate symptoms, there is one question- “Do allergy medications raise blood pressure?”
A Brief Introduction to Allergies (AKA A Sneeze Attack)
Before we dive deep into this topic, let’s start with what exactly happens when you taunt Mother Nature by going out without proper protection from all those pesky allergens.
When your immune system detects an invading substance (pollen/grass/dander), it kicks off a bunch of reaction pathways aimed towards getting rid of the invader. These reactions include histamine release leading to sneezing/runny nose/itchy eyes/throat etc.
While mildly annoying on their own (who doesn’t love a little challenge) collectively these reactions can disrupt daily activities especially when they persist long-term.
Enter allergy medicine!
Allergy Medicine Types & How They Work
There are multiple types and forms of allergy medication available OTC or prescription-based which work differently and target different parts of your immune response:
Antihistamines
Decongestants
Nasal corticosteroids
Antihistamines such as loratadine,cetirizine work by blocking histamine receptors thus preventing symptoms triggered by histamine including itchiness,sneezing,watery eyes whereas decongestants(colds etc) shrink swollen nasal passages promoting easier breathing
Nasal sprays containing steroids given as local treatment aid opening clogged sinus passageways allowing released unfettered egress.
What’s up with histamines?
Histamines are a natural compound involved in immune response and they also determine your quality of life during allergy season. So, if you ever experience excessive sneezing, inflamed skin or runny nose due to an allergen being present (or someone emptying the pepper shaker into your food) , it’s because of these pesky little fellas getting released.
The Connection Between Blood Pressure & Allergy Medications
Now let’s get to the all-important question – Do allergy medications raise blood pressure?
The answer is not as simple as yes or no since this depends on various factors such as:
-Age
-Overall health
-Medicinal mixture
Antihistamines & Blood Pressure
First off, antihistamines can cause certain side effects including high blood pressure/ increase heart rate especially in older adults.
So while popping Claritin for that runny nosed doesn’t sound too bad (let’s be honest here…if given a choice between taking medication which raises BP vs curling up and dying like old men portrayed in movies….we’ll take our chances!) double-check with your doctor before consuming them regularly esp if you already have hypertension.
Decongestants’ Ability To Heighten Blood Pressure!
More importantly when it comes to decongestants containing pseudoephedrine/drug-store cocaine, the word “caution” should always come to mind.
Decongestant drugs work by narrowing small inflammated nasal passages reducing stuffiness allowing air flow.In general its over-the-counter availability speaks volumes regarding its safety but nevertheless care must be taken during ingestion.People who need higher doses/more than 5 pills per day are more at risk for developing temporary elevated BP (with episodes lasting upto nine hours) and may warrant complete cessation depending on circumstance
A Word Of Caution
In rare cases pseudophederine may lead to serious consequence including hemorrhagic stroke especially when concomitantly used with anti-depressant medication or MAOI’s.
Nasal Steroids & Blood Pressure
While Nasal steroids have long-term beneficial effects,they too can affect blood pressure in a very few inducing risky side-effects involving hypertension and edema (fluid accumulation)
However, the net benefits of taking these drugs overwhelmingly over-rules the measly drawback. Given localised administration, do not worry about your whole body blowing up like a balloon!
Final Thoughts
In summary- Do allergy medications raise blood pressure? As seen above – yes! But if you don’t go crazy with self-medication and consult your doctor before-ingesting any sort of treatment mixed remedies are (kinda) safe.
So there you have it – some light-hearted education on allergies,blood pressure and their interplay.Given that these conditions may coexist sufferer should be make cautionary measures regarding consumption .Always remember,it’s better to roll with watery eyes than collapsing dead-like at office lunch!(Note: we take no responsibility for anybody dying due to being affected by allergic reaction ,:)
Hey there, I’m Dane Raynor, and I’m all about sharing fascinating knowledge, news, and hot topics. I’m passionate about learning and have a knack for simplifying complex ideas. Let’s explore together!
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