Learn About Supplements And Medications That Increase Blood Pressure

Ladies, supplements for high blood pressure are common. That said, you usually only get high blood pressure pills when you have a reading of 140/90 mm Hg or higher! This is why natural remedies for high blood pressure are getting more popular. Of course, you have to talk to your doctor first. Some supplements and medications will increase your pressure instead!

Decongestants

Decongestants also cause your blood pressure to rise. Ladies, this one also narrows your blood vessels! This drug, sadly, also makes hypertension medications less effective. OTC decongestants are very common. Ladies, they're also in many OTC cold and flu remedies! When you have high blood pressure, avoid anything with ephedrine, phenylephrine, and pseudoephedrine. Don't try oxymetazoline or naphazoline either.

Thankfully, there are many OTC cold and cough medicines without this effect on your blood pressure. Ask your pharmacist for help finding them! Ladies, consider other remedies for the cold or flu when you have high blood pressure. Saline nasal sprays and antihistamines are two good choices! Drinking tea and gargling with salt water work too. See your doctor if your symptoms last longer than 10 days!

Ginseng

There's research showing that ginseng increases your blood pressure. This is the most common when you're taking it for the first time! Ladies, that's why doctors don't recommend ginseng, including supplements, when you already have high blood pressure. However, there's some conflicting evidence on ginseng. One review of clinical trials says it's safe after all! This comes from evidence showing that it doesn't significantly impact systolic, diastolic, or mean arterial pressure. The review also says ginseng mildly improves the systolic pressure of diabetes patients! It also has neutral effects on your vascular system.

That said, you still need to practice caution. Ladies, this is even more important when you have hypertension or heart disease. Of course, never combine ginseng supplements with caffeine! It will trigger a dangerous rise in your blood pressure and heart rate. Overall, it's best to ask your doctor about ginseng first.

Caffeine

Ladies, there's evidence of caffeine increasing your blood pressure! This applies to drinks like coffee as well as supplements. It happens because caffeine constricts your blood vessels. Ladies, your blood needs more force to pump through your vessels because of it! In many cases, you will have a higher than average blood pressure thanks to drinking caffeine regularly. That said, some of you will become tolerant to it and won't see any elevations in your blood pressure! Of course, you will still get temporary increases when you drink 200 to 300 mg of caffeine.

Ladies, try limiting your caffeine intake! Don't drink more than 200 mg daily. Of course, avoid supplements unless your doctor tells you to take them. When they do, follow their directions very closely! If you have hypertension, avoid all sources of caffeine before exercising. Don't take supplements at all! When it comes to coffee and similar drinks, as your doctor about what's safe for you.

St. John's Wort

St. John's wort's a common herbal supplement. Ladies, you've likely heard of it as an option for treating mild depression. However, this supplement also increases your blood pressure! That's why it's not recommended when you have hypertension. Some studies even say that it will cause dangerous increases even when you don't have high blood pressure. One example is a case involving a 41-year-old man. He had a hypertensive crisis after taking St. John's wort for 7 days! He needed the emergency room because of delirium, and his recorded blood pressure was 210/140 mm Hg! The sad part, ladies, is that he said he followed the bottle's instructions and wasn't taking anything else.

Ladies, the dangerous side effect of high blood pressure is why your doctor will likely tell you to try a prescription antidepressant first. It's also worth noting that St. John's wort has serious issues when it's combined with other medicines. Tell your doctor when you want to take this so they can check for these interactions!

Antidepressants

Sadly, some antidepressants increase your blood pressure too. Ladies, examples of the ones that do are MAOIs, tricyclic antidepressants, fluoxetine, and venlafaxine! Scientists don't seem to know exactly why this happens. Some say it's because these medications make your nervous system more active. The result is amplifying signals sent to the rest of your body, including the ones that control your blood pressure!

Thankfully, taking antidepressants when you have high blood pressure is still safe! Ladies, your doctor will likely recommend ones without this as a side effect. If you have to take a risky one anyway, they will start you at a lower dose! They will keep a close eye on your blood pressure too.