NHS warns people with high blood pressure and diabetes to avoid common medication

The NHS has issued a warning against the use of decongestants for individuals with certain health conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure. Decongestants, commonly used to provide temporary relief from symptoms of cold, flu, hay fever, allergic reactions, catarrh and sinusitis, work by reducing the swelling of blood vessels in the nose, thereby opening up the airways.

However, since these can be purchased over the counter without a prescription, it's crucial for people to know who should and shouldn't use them. The NHS advises that certain groups should seek advice from a pharmacist or GP before using decongestants.

They also caution against giving decongestants to children under 6 years of age and recommend that children aged 6 to 11 should only use them for a maximum of 5 days, under the guidance of a pharmacist. Pregnant women are advised to only use decongestants if instructed by a healthcare professional, and those that come in tablet, liquid or powder form are not recommended for breastfeeding mothers.

The NHS emphasises that the patient information leaflet accompanying the medicine will provide details on who should avoid its use and who should seek advice prior to using it. Decongestants come in various forms, including some products that solely contain decongestant medicine.

However, many are marketed as "all-in-1" remedies, combining decongestants with painkillers or antihistamines, according to the health service, reports Surrey Live. Recently, Dr Xand, a resident doctor on BBC Morning Live, advised against spending money on over-the-counter cold or flu medications. He specifically mentioned that certain nasal sprays might even exacerbate symptoms.

On November 19, while discussing nasal sprays on the show, he cautioned viewers that "the stuff you can buy in the chemist is complicated to navigate", as reported by Mirror Online. He pointed out that people often gravitate towards decongestant sprays first.

Dr Xand explained that these sprays "decrease the blood flow in your nose and they're very effective, but they do have side-effects and you can get a major rebound congestion." He elaborated on the issue, saying: "So when you stop using them the blood vessels in your nose have gotten used to using them so they wear off quite quickly and then you get more congestion afterwards. And it's actually a very well described phenomenon and it means you can get congestion going on and on and on for ages."

Dr Xand's advice was clear: "So personally I would steer clear of them."

He recommended an alternative approach, suggesting that "what can work is washing your nose out, get some of that mucus out which will restore your taste and smell and it will help you breathe a bit more easily."