Question

My father has had a cold and his blood pressure has gone up. Could this be due to the infection?

Answer

There are many reasons why somebody's blood pressure may be up when they are unwell, and before you get too worried about it one would need to know the height of the blood pressure and whether it has gone back to normal now your father is over his upper respiratory condition. If not, he should see his doctor.

Many cough and cold remedies have dubious contents and this may be the cause of the raised blood pressure. Many contain pseudoephedrine, which has an effect like the sympathetic nervous system and so increases the heart rate and blood pressure. (The same effect on the lungs increases the amount of air passing in and out of them.) They should be used with caution in people who have high blood pressure or heart disease, but are usually safe in those who have neither of these. The dose of course must not be exceeded. The ingredients of each preparation are usually clearly written on the box or packet insert.