Can Having The Flu Raise Your Blood Pressure

Breakthrough Within Reach For Diabetes Scientist And Patients Nearest To His Heart

A new study suggests for the first time that cytomegalovirus , a common viral infection affecting between 60 percent and 99 percent of adults worldwide, is a cause of high blood pressure, a leading risk factor for heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease.

The study, led by researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and published in the May 15 issue of PLoS Pathogens, further demonstrates that when coupled with other risk factors for heart disease, the virus can lead to the development of atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries.

CMV infects humans all over the world, explains co-senior author Clyde Crumpacker, an investigator in the Division of Infectious Diseases at BIDMC and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. This new discovery may eventually provide doctors with a whole new approach to treating hypertension, with antiviral therapies or vaccines becoming part of the prescription.

A member of the herpes-virus family, CMV affects all age groups and is the source of congenital infection, mononucleosis, and severe infection in transplant patients. By the age of 40, most adults will have contracted the virus, though many will never exhibit symptoms. Once it has entered the body, CMV is usually there to stay, remaining latent until the immune system is compromised, when it then re-emerges.

While Youre Lying In Bed As Sick As A Dog With The Flu And Wondering If This Is Raising Your Blood Pressure Youre Right

The flu even the common cold can actually cause your blood pressure to go up.

But this doesnt happen in every single case, however. Its possible but not guaranteed.

When you have a cold or flu, you may have an increased heart rate , says Susan L. Besser, MD, with Mercy Medical Center, Baltimore, and Diplomate American Board of Obesity Medicine and board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine.

This could cause your blood pressure to elevate, adds Dr. Besser. Also, any stressful situation can cause a temporary increase in blood pressure.

Lastly, some cold and flu medications have an ingredient that can raise your blood pressure.

If you already have a hypertension diagnosis, youll want to avoid taking any cold or flu medications that contain decongestants.

For example, the cold medication Coricidin HBP does not contain a decongestant.

Common Hypertension Drugs Can Raise Blood Pressure In Certain Patients

Date:

Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Summary:

Commonly prescribed drugs used to lower blood pressure can actually have the opposite effect — raising blood pressure in a statistically significant percentage of patients. A new study suggests that doctors could avoid this problem — and select drugs most suitable for their patients — by measuring blood levels of the enzyme renin through a blood test that is becoming more widely available.

AlbCommonly prescribed drugs used to lower blood pressure can actually have the opposite effect — raising blood pressure in a statistically significant percentage of patients. A new study by researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University suggests that doctors could avoid this problem — and select drugs most suitable for their patients — by measuring blood levels of the enzyme renin through a blood test that is becoming more widely available.

The study appears in the online edition of the American Journal of Hypertension.

“Our findings suggest that physicians should use renin levels to predict the most appropriate first drug for treating patients with hypertension,” says lead author Michael Alderman, M.D., professor of epidemiology & population health and of medicine at Einstein. “This would increase the likelihood of achieving blood pressure control and reduce the need for patients to take additional antihypertensive medications.”

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When To See A Healthcare Provider

Despite your best efforts, sometimes your blood sugar can still spike when youre ill. Its important to keep a record of your blood sugar levels and other metrics your healthcare provider has advised you to keep track of . Keep this information somewhere portable, so you can share with your practitioner should the need arise.

When you have diabetes and get sick, there are certain situations that require immediate medical attention. If you have any of the following symptoms, contact your healthcare provider right away:

• Blood glucose levels above 240 mg/dL even though youve taken your diabetes medicine
• Blood glucose levels below 60 mg/dL
• Diarrhea for more than six hours
• Brain fog and severe fatigue
• High fever
• Signs of DKA or HHS
• Trouble breathing
• Urine or blood ketone levels above normal
• Vomiting more than once
• Weight loss of 5 pounds or more

Do not delay treatment. If you cannot see your healthcare provider, go to the emergency room.

Let your medical professional know the following:

• How long you have been sick
• Current symptoms

How To Protect Yourself From The Flu

Experts agree that the best thing you can do is to get vaccinated against the flu. “The vaccine is the best way to prevent or minimize cardiovascular complications,” Dr. Adalja says. Dr. Weinberg agrees. While the flu vaccine isn’t perfect, she points out that getting it will dramatically lower your risk of getting seriously ill or developing cardiac complications if you happen to get the virus. In fact, a 2021 study published in Vaccine suggests that flu vaccinations resulted in a 26 percent lower risk of ICU admission rate and 31 percent lower risk of death compared to unvaccinated people. And if you’re not exactly sure where to get jabbed, the CDC has a vaccine locater tool that you can use to get your flu shot .

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Sick Day Rules For Diabetes

Developing sick day rules is an important part of diabetes management and can help you recover from sickness. Talk to your healthcare provider and share any concerns you may have about properly caring for yourself during times of illness. This includes sicknesses like the common cold and flu and infections, as well as physical stress related to any surgeries and times of heightened emotional stress.

Responses To Can Fighting A Cold Or Flu Give You High Blood Pressure Reading

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Why Blood Sugar Spikes When Youre Sick

Any type of illness can raise blood sugar. There are two primary reasons why your blood sugar spikes when you get sick. Together, they are like a double-edged sword that makes managing sickness without a plan much more challenging for people with diabetes than those without.

This is what happens to your blood sugar when you get sick:

• Your body releases stress hormones like epinephrine to fight the illness. These hormones can raise your blood sugar levels and increase the amount of insulin your body needs. This makes it harder for your body to produce enough insulin to keep up with the increased demand.
• When your body doesnt have enough insulin to meet this increased demand, it starts burning fat as fuel and this produces ketones, which can make your blood toxic in high amounts. This can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis, which can be life-threatening if left untreated.

When youre sick, diabetic ketoacidosis can come on quite quickly . This is why following a preset diabetes sick day plan is a critical component of managing any type of illness. People with type 1 diabetes who cannot produce enough insulin on their own even during their healthiest days are at increased risk of this complication.

Flu & People With Diabetes

• Emergency Medical Care

People with diabetes , even when well-managed, are at higher risk of developing serious flu complications, which can result in hospitalization and sometimes even death. Pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus infections and ear infections are examples of flu-related complications. In recent seasons, about 30% of adults hospitalized with flu reported to CDC had diabetes. Flu also can make chronic health problems like diabetes worse because these conditions can make the immune system less able to fight off infections. Furthermore, acute illnesses like flu can make it harder to control your blood sugar levels. Flu may raise your blood sugar levels, but sometimes people dont feel like eating when they are sick and a reduced appetite can cause blood sugar levels to fall. It is important for people with diabetes to follow the sick day guidelines if they become ill.

Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects how your body turns food into energy. There are three main types of diabetes: type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes . More than 100 million Americans are living with diabetes or prediabetes .

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Many People Want To Know If A Stomach Virus Can Actually Raise Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is the force with which blood presses against the inner walls of vessels.

A virus is a microscopic organism that can cause anything from a minor nuisance in the body to a life-threatening situation.

But is there a connection between a viral infection of the stomach and an increase in blood pressure?

There is no evidence that a stomach virus can raise blood pressure, says William Manger, MD, PhD, founder of the National Hypertension Association, professor emeritus at the New York School of Medicine, and author of the book, Live Longer, Live Better: Avoid the Risks.

Dr. Manger adds, However, if a stomach virus causes significant abdominal pain, an elevation in blood pressure may result from the pain and discomfort.

Thus, there is no direct path through which a stomach virus spikes blood pressure.

Of course, physical pain or stress can elevate ones blood pressure regardless of the cause of that pain.

Dr. Manger, who began practicing medicine in 1949, has conducted research on the mechanism of salt-induced hypertension, and has published research in peer-reviewed journals.

Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. Shes also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.

What You Should Use

If youre reading this and are concerned about what options are there for you when you head to the pharmacy, DePalma said that you should look for alternative treatments like an intranasal steroid or oral antihistamines to lessen your congestion.

Also, instead of medications with ibuprofen, go with cold and flu medications that have acetaminophen, which wont have that cardiovascular risk, she said.

Dr. Steven Nissen, a cardiologist at Cleveland Clinic, who was not affiliated with the AHAs guidelines, told Healthline that the heart risks with these kinds of drugs have long been known.

We used to see these kinds of drugs in weight-loss products where people whose blood pressure was spiking from taking them. The risks are there not just for nasal congestion, he said. Anything that constricts the blood vessels and raises blood pressure is never a good idea.

Nissen echoed DePalma that the best alternatives are to take a decongestant nasal spray that will have much less effect on blood pressure.

He added that the best thing you could do is to just not take these drugs at all.

Since concerns originally surfaced regarding these medications, Nissen said they have become less of a go-to for people searching for relief from their colds than they used to be.

Over the years, theyve moved away from the easy availability of store shelves to behind the pharmacists counter.

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Flu Vaccinations For People With Heart Conditions

The flu puts people with heart conditions at risk of serious illness or even death. A flu vaccination reduces your chance of getting sick and going to hospital. We explain why it’s important to get both a flu and a Covid-19 vaccination.

Influenza, or the flu, is a viral infection of your nose, throat and lungs. It can be a serious illness and kills around 500 New Zealanders a year.

It puts stress on your body and can increase:

• your blood pressure
• your risk of having a heart attack or stroke.

If you have a heart condition, the flu can make you very ill. Sometimes this can result in hospital visits or even death.

A flu vaccination reduces your risk of catching the flu and getting seriously ill.

Cold Weather And Blood Pressure

The changes of seasons can also have an effect on blood pressure. As the weather turns colder, our blood vessels begin to narrow which increases the amount of pressure needed to pump our blood through these smaller passageways. Other weather changes can cause an increase to our blood pressure as our body responds in similar ways to sudden changes such as wind, storms, hot/cold fronts, and changes in humidity.

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The Cold The Cure And High Blood Pressure

One way to decrease your risk of a spike in your blood pressure during illness is to check what drugs or medications you are taking.

In addition to the effects of fever, your blood pressure can also be affected by medications. Over-the-counter cold remedies, ones that contain decongestants, are some of the main culprits.

Decongestants work to narrow blood vessels in your nose, helping you breathe more clearly, but they also narrow other blood vessels, raising blood pressure. Decongestants to avoid if you have hypertension include pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, phenylephrine, naphazoline and oxymetazoline 1.

• One way to decrease your risk of a spike in your blood pressure during illness is to check what drugs or medications you are taking.
• In addition to the effects of fever, your blood pressure can also be affected by medications.

Why Your Blood Pressure Should Be Less Than 130/80

Your blood pressure is a good indicator of your overall health. Ideally, you want it to be less than 130/80 to prevent things like hypertension. However, what does this number mean, and why should your blood pressure be less than that?

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People With Diabetes And High Blood Pressure Are More At Risk Of Having A Heart Attack Or Stroke So It’s Important To Know How To Look After Your Blood Pressure

If you have diabetes, you need your blood pressure checked by a healthcare professional at least once a year. This check is part of your annual review.

If your blood pressure is high , youll need treatment to bring it down. This is because it puts a strain on your blood vessels and can damage them. This can make it harder for blood to flow around the body and reach all the vital areas it needs to, like your heart. And youre more at risk of having a heart attack or stroke. It also puts you more at risk of developing all types of diabetes complications, like serious problems with your feet, your eyes and your kidneys.

Theres lots to help manage your blood pressure because your lifestyle has a direct impact. But lots of people also need to take medication to treat high blood pressure and reduce the risk complications.

Its really important to know that you might have high blood pressure and feel fine, because there arent usually any symptoms. But even if you feel healthy, high blood pressure is damaging your blood vessels and you need to get treatment. Thats why you should never miss a blood pressure check its a free test and takes two minutes.

/6can Vaccines Impact Your Blood Pressure Readings

To date, hypertension or an apparent change in blood pressure readings is not a mentioned side-effect of any of the COVID-19 vaccines.

Rising blood pressure levels haven’t also been mentioned as an explicit adverse reaction in either of the safety or clinical trials conducted so far.

However, emerging data present hypertension to be a strange side-effect many may experience after getting a jab of the vaccine.

People who underwent hypertension also recorded symptoms like a headache, chest pain, anxiety and sweating, all associated with a rise in blood pressure levels.

While it is being considered as a ‘rare’ side-effect, experts suggest that hypertension may not be a symptomatic side-effect in itself, but one which may be resulting from stress associated with vaccination.

Another reason fueling the apparent rise in blood pressure levels has also been linked to the ‘white-coat effect, which causes blood pressure readings to be relatively high in diagnostic settings, in comparison to other places.

While inconclusive, risk factors for hypertension may also be determined by one’s apparent risk for cardiac complications, age and other preconditions which may go unnoticed.

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