Author:- Mr. Ritesh Sharma
Cold and cough are common medical conditions that we experience in our daily lives. However, have you ever wondered: can a cold and cough increase heart rate? In a normal scenario, cold and cough mostly affect our respiratory system. They are normally dictated by symptoms such as congestion, runny nose, and sore throat. However, it is also true that they can impact other aspects of our health as well. These aspects include cardiovascular health too.
While cold and cough might not have a direct impact on our heart rate, they might influence it indirectly. How so? That we will find out in this blog. Here, we will delve into the intricate connection between cold, cough, and cardiovascular health and uncover some worthy insights. So, if you have a chronic cold and cough and feel paranoid about whether that would have an impact on your heart rate, discover some useful information throughout this blog.
Understanding Cold and Cough
Before delving into the conundrum of can a cold and cough increase heart rate and cause heart palpitations, let’s try to briefly understand what cold and cough are. The common cold is a viral infection primarily affecting the upper respiratory tract. The major symptoms of this cold are nasal congestion, sneezing, coughing, sore throat, and sometimes fever. On the other hand, coughing is more of a reflex action. It is mostly triggered by irritation in the respiratory passages. Furthermore, it often occurs as a result of a cold and other respiratory infections.
Both cold and cough are highly infectious medical conditions that swiftly transmit from one person to the other through physical contact. In a typical manner, cold and cough are respiratory conditions that mostly only have an impact on the respiratory system. However, if we dive deep into the intricacies of this medical condition, we find out its impact on other aspects of our health as well, including cardiovascular health.
Can a Cold and Cough Increase Heart Rate?
Now, let’s study the impact of cold and cough on the heart rate and overall cardiovascular health. When we experience a cold and cough, our body’s immune system kicks into action to fight off the infection. This immune response by the body is normally swift. Due to this immune response, the body experiences a multitude of physiological changes. One of these physiological changes is an elevated heart rate causing temporary cardiac arrhythmia of the arrhythmia classification tachycardia. This is influenced by several factors. Let’s try to understand these factors now:
- Fever: Due to a cough and cold, we tend to experience fever. During a fever, the metabolic rate of the body increases. This leads to a higher energy expenditure and an increased heart rate. This happens because the heart has to work harder to pump blood throughout the body.
- Dehydration: During cough and cold, there is a fluid loss in the body. This happens through sweating, increased respiratory rate, and decreased fluid intake due to discomfort. Now, due to dehydration, there can be a drop in the blood volume. This prompts the heart to work harder to ensure all vital organs of the body receive adequate blood.
- Coughing Spells: When you have a cold, you might have persistent coughing spells. These coughing spells put an additional strain on the cardiovascular system. In other words, intense coughing can lead to a surge in blood pressure and it can stimulate the sympathetic nervous system leading to an elevated heart rate.
- Medications: To cure a cold and cough, you might take medications. These medications may contain ingredients such as decongestants or antihistamines, which can have side effects such as increased heart beat or palpitations in some individuals.
- Underlying Heart Conditions: In a few selective cases, colds and coughs may exacerbate underlying health conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). These conditions are already associated with an elevated heart rate. This is because due to their effect the lung function is normally compromised.
How to manage your heart rate during a cold and cough?
To manage your heart rate during a cold and cough, you must adhere to some precautions. A list of all these precautions is as follows:
- Stay Hydrated: During a cough and cold, it is important to maintain the blood volume. So, you must drink plenty of fluids, including water, herbal teas, or electrolyte-rich beverages.
- Rest: You must get adequate rest by getting good sleep. This will allow your body to stay in a state of calm and prevent the further worsening of any cardiovascular condition.
- Manage Fever: If you are affected by fever then you can manage it by taking medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
- Use Cough Suppressants: If you are not able to sleep due to a persistent cough then consider using cough suppressants or lozenges to relieve irritation and reduce cough frequency.
- Monitor Medication Use: If you have a pre-existing condition, then be extra cautious while taking medication for a cold and cough. You must adhere to the recommended dosage and if any concerns arise consult your healthcare professional.
- Seek Medical Attention: If you are experiencing symptoms such as chest discomfort or pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, or lightheadedness then you must seek medical attention promptly.
In conclusion, the answer to the question of can a cold and cough increase heart rate is simple yes. However, it only increases the heart rate indirectly. However, the elevated heart rate from a cold and cough doesn’t pose a serious risk to anyone’s cardiovascular health unless they have any underlying heart conditions.
