Q: Why does my blood pressure go up when I’m sick?
A: The pain associated with an illness can increase blood pressure. Often the drugs people take to make them feel better are the cause. Pain killers such as Advil, Motrin, and Aleve can increase blood pressure. Cold pills containing decongestants can increase blood pressure. Inadequate fluid intake during illness can contribute. These are just some of the many factors that can cause
an increase in blood pressure with illness.
Your body is at work fighting the infection. Work raises blood pressure while it is going on.
Here again, the answer is very simple. The body needs more oxygen to fight the infection. Oxygen is a basic nutritional input to the living cells, and a key part of the body’s “repair system.”
I think the doc is wrong again here. Inadequate fluid intake will dehydrate you and thus cause less fluid in the bloodstream. Less fluid in the blood = lower pressure. Case in point. I had noravirus this past winter which is an intestinal virus that causes vomiting. Vomiting will cause fluid loss. My blood pressure dropped to about 101/53.
I have a publication by the British Hypertension Society and in there it says that a diagnosis of high BP should not be made when a patient is sick or in pain.
I have a new doctor*** (hooray!) and have a shoulder injury and I was in pain. My BP was just under 140/90. Blood tests are good; very low cholesterol and triglycerides, not overweight, fit. She then ask me whether I was in pain and when I said ‘yes’ she left it at that and did not bother me anymore about the BP.
*** She also sometimes recommends herbal supplements and emphasis is on good nutrition. She apparently also attends lectures in alternative medicine and works with a local natural medicine practitioner. I think I am really lucky that I found her!
I too have a doctor that is into alternative and when I sprained my ankle… and I’m also detoxing from sugar… he said not to worry if my pressure is above what it normally is… He also said that being overweight is a major cause of high blood pressure…
Thank you God that there are some knowledgable peeps out there and some of them are actually doctors!
I have had three doctors tell me that PAIN will elevate your blood pressure