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

The NHS is warning people to not take decongestants if they have a number of health issues such as diabetes or high blood pressure. This is a common type of medicine that can provide short-term relief for a blocked or stuffy nose, such as when you have the cold or flu.

Also used for hay fever and other allergic reactions, catarrh and sinusitis, the spray works by reducing the swelling of the blood vessels in your nose, which helps to open the airways. But because most decongestants can be bought over the counter from pharmacies without a prescription, people need to know who can and can't use it.

Who can and can't take decongestants?

Most people can use decongestants safely, but they're not suitable for everyone warns the NHS. They say that "they should not be used by the following groups of people without getting advice from a pharmacist or GP first." This includes:

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• people taking other medicines

• people with diabetes

• people with high blood pressure

• people with an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism)

• men with an enlarged prostate

• people with liver, kidney, heart or circulation problems

• people with increased pressure in the eye glaucoma

They further warn that "decongestants should not be given to children under 6 years of age". If you are giving it to a child aged 6 to 11, they should "take them for no longer than 5 days" and you should ask a pharmacist for advice.

If you're pregnant, "you should only use them if told to by a healthcare professional. Decongestants that come as tablets, liquids or powders that you swallow are not recommended if you're breastfeeding", they.

The NHS adds that "the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine will say who should not use it and who should get advice before using it."

What types of decongestants are there?

Decongestants are available as:

• flavoured powders to dissolve in hot water

• nasal sprays

• tablets or capsules

• liquids or syrups

• drops

Some products may just contain decongestant medicine. Yet many are sold as "all-in-1" remedies that contain decongestants, painkillers or antihistamines, the health service adds.

Just recently, Dr Xand, a resident doctor on BBC Morning Live, has said that people should stop wasting their money on over-the-counter medications if they're suffering with the cold or flu. He said some nasal sprays could actually be making you feel worse.

Speaking on the show this week on November 19 about nasal sprays, he warned that "the stuff you can buy in the chemist is complicated to navigate", reports Mirror Online, with the first spray many people are drawn to being decongestant sprays. He explained that these type of sprays often "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.

"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.

"So personally I would steer clear of them." Urging people to avoid them he says instead "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."