HEALTH INSIGHTS

Heart Disease: Considering Cold Relief

By Conaway, Brenda 
 | 
March 21, 2017

Heart Disease: Considering Cold Relief

Colds and the flu can be serious for people with heart disease. Not only are you at risk for pneumonia, but it’s hard to tell whether your symptoms are a sign of a cold or of worsening heart failure.

And if you do have a cold, you may not be able to take over-the-counter (OTC) medicines to help you feel better. Medicines such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or diclofenac, for example, also called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), can cause you to retain fluid and make your heart failure worse. Also, many OTC cold medicines, including nasal sprays, contain decongestants like phenylephrine, pseudoephedrine, oxymetazoline, and naphazoline, can raise blood pressure and interfere with prescription medicines.

Prevention is the best medicine for a cold or the flu. Ask your healthcare provider about when and how to get a yearly flu and pneumonia vaccines. Avoid contact with people who have colds, and wash your hands often.

If you feel a cold coming on, talk with your healthcare provider. He or she can evaluate your symptoms and may recommend a pain reliever like acetaminophen, which is not an NSAID. Also ask about cold medicines that don’t contain decongestants. The bottom line: Always talk with your healthcare provider before taking any new medicine.

 

Updated:  

March 21, 2017

Sources:  

Increased Mortality and Cardiovascular Morbidity Associated with Use of Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs in Chronic Heart Failure. Gislason, G. Archives of Internal Medicine. 2009, is 169, ed. 2, pp. 141-9.

Reviewed By:  

Fetterman, Anne, RN, BSN,Gandelman, Glenn, MD, MPH