Heart Health 6: Respiratory Illness
Hello and happy Fall! Fall is one of my favorite seasons. The leaves are changing, the weather is cooler, and for many outdoor sportsmen, the return of many hunting seasons has arrived.
However with the colder, darker months upon us, many of us may find ourselves spending more time inside and doing more indoor activities. This unfortunately brings more respiratory illnesses into the picture.
Respiratory illnesses can vary from things like the common cold, influenza, COVID, RSV, pneumonia, and many others. They can vary in severity from person to person as well as from season to season. One person may be sick with influenza and not have any severe symptoms but may pass it to another that may end up in the hospital.
Those with high blood pressure may experience these illnesses more severely than a person that does not have high blood pressure. This could be due to your body’s immune response. When you are infected with a virus, your body begins to fight off this infection, which is a lot of work. Your blood pressure may rise, and if you already have high blood pressure, this could be cause for concern.
Another issue to be aware of is that common over the counter medications may raise your blood pressure further. According to Mayo Clinic, medications containing decongestants like pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, phenylephrine, naphazoline, oxymetazoline may raise your blood pressure. They also state these medications narrow blood vessels, which can reduce swelling in the nose area and other parts of the body but put more pressure on the heart by doing so. Also, check medicine labels for sodium content. Too much salt can raise blood pressure.
The easiest solution is to pick medications that state on the front that they are safe for those with high blood pressure if you need to take medication. Be careful of what pain medication you use as well. Asprin and acetaminophen (Tylenol) are generally safe to use, but ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) and naproxen sodium (Aleve) can increase blood pressure. Other solutions for a respiratory illness are using saline sprays for your nose, gargling with salt water for sore throats, Vicks, drinking plenty of fluids (as much as you are able if you have fluid restrictions), using a humidifier and resting.
I can’t talk about respiratory infections without talking about prevention. Wash your hands, stay home when you’re sick, and get plenty of rest and exercise. Also, vaccines are very effective in preventing serious illness in those we love by preventing the spread of illness. Even in years where the flu vaccine might not be a good “match” with the virus that is circulating, your body still has a certain level of immunity to the flu.
COVID-19 and flu vaccines are available to anyone six months and older, and RSV and pneumococcal vaccines may be recommended to those 60-65 with certain conditions. Many local pharmacies and locations like Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, and local clinics will have walk in hours or appointments available to get these vaccines. You can also make an appointment with your local health care provider. The Clark County Health Department also has walk in clinics every Monday in Neillsville from 2 to 4 p.m. To find a vaccine clinic near you (we have them in almost every town) call 715-743-5292 and leave a message for a nurse to call you back.
