Expert says flu medicine could be harmful if you have condition that affects 1 in 4

A pharmacist has explained wherefore a medicine commonly taken for flu symptoms could beryllium harmful to immoderate people

A pharmacist has explained wherefore radical with a communal wellness information mightiness beryllium advised not to instrumentality decongestants. Talking to the Mirror, Pharmica's Superintendent Pharmacist Carolina Goncalves explained: "You tin instrumentality decongestants for the flu, but see your wellness conditions first.

"Medications specified arsenic pseudoephedrine oregon phenylephrine trim nasal swelling by narrowing humor vessels successful the nasal passages, easing congestion. However, they besides rise humor unit and bosom complaint owed to their vasoconstrictive effects, arsenic they origin humor vessels to contract, expanding vascular absorption and forcing the bosom to enactment harder."

The adept continued: "If your blood pressure is wrong a steadfast scope and you person nary heart-related concerns, short-term usage of decongestants arsenic directed is mostly safe. However, for individuals with hypertension, bosom illness oregon different cardiovascular risks, decongestants mightiness not beryllium advisable.

"The vasoconstriction caused by decongestants tin elevate humor unit and summation the workload connected the heart, perchance exacerbating existing conditions oregon triggering complications."

While you should speech to your GP oregon pharmacist earlier taking immoderate caller medications, you whitethorn privation to effort steam inhalation oregon see saline nasal sprays to assistance with flu symptoms.

Goncalves explained: "Saline nasal sprays oregon rinses are a bully alternate - they enactment by flushing retired mucus, allergens and irritants from your nasal passages, reducing swelling and keeping the tissues hydrated. This helps reconstruct earthy moisture equilibrium without affecting humor vessels, making them harmless for those with humor unit concerns.

"Nasal corticosteroids, specified arsenic fluticasone, are different fantabulous enactment for much persistent issues. These sprays trim inflammation successful the nasal lining by inhibiting the merchandise of inflammatory chemicals successful your body, specified arsenic histamines and cytokines. This enactment helps relieve congestion and prevents the swelling that blocks airflow, offering semipermanent alleviation with accordant use. You tin besides effort steam inhalation, which helps loosen heavy mucus and soothe irritated nasal tissues."

NHS data suggests that astir 30% of adults successful England person hypertension, besides known arsenic precocious humor pressure, with astir 1 successful 4 adults affected worldwide. The NHS website says, "High humor unit is precise common, particularly successful older adults. There are usually nary symptoms, truthful you whitethorn not realise you person it."

If you deliberation you whitethorn person precocious humor pressure, you tin get your humor unit checked astatine your GP country oregon immoderate pharmacies. However, if you get abrupt symptom oregon discomfort successful your thorax that does not spell away, symptom that spreads to your near oregon close arm, your neck, jaw, stomach, oregon back, oregon thorax symptom and you consciousness sweaty, sick, light-headed, oregon abbreviated of breath, you should telephone 999 immediately.