Allergies and High Blood Pressure

Question:

Can allergies cause high blood pressure?

Answer:

Allergies do not usually affect blood pressure unless you have a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis. However, anaphylaxis leads to dangerously low blood pressure, not high blood pressure. While allergies do not cause high blood pressure, a person might be told their blood pressure is higher than normal when taking medications to treat allergy symptoms, such as decongestants or corticosteroids (the pill form). So if you have been told that your blood pressure is elevated, you should review any non-prescription as well as prescription medications that may be increasing your blood pressure.

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Source: from the Harvard Health Publications Family Health Guide, Copyright © 2007 by President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved.

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