 [ Symptoms ] can taking protein supplements to increase muscle mass increase blood pressure  i am a health coach at an organization that deals with worksite wellness some participants who work out and take protein supplements creatine for example sometimes have a higher blood pressure can taking these supplements increase blood pressure or is there not any correlation at all [ Disease ] i have the same symptoms i feel its closer to the bronchitis side of things because of the clear mucus i cough when i am not riding i am able to comfortably take my heart rate over 160 but i still have a cough which lasts for weeks after an upper respiratory tract infection generally also involving the sinuses i also get the odd drainage from my sinuses afterduring a hot shower for example which seems to clear them my explanation is as follows when i am riding outdoors in the summer i breath a lot of pollens i am not in the city a little exhaust and this will tend to exacerbate an existing irritation corticosteroids have limited effect to reduce the irritation but can reduce an acute irritation to the point where it is no longer chronic and my body is defenses can make a difference thus its a combination of factors which typically plays out in the following order 1 bad coldurt infection 5 days 2 chronic cough 1 week to 8 weeks but lungs good enough to exercise 3 clear 2 8 months managing the level 2 is what this is all about on occasions where i have been at the coast swimming in the sea often clears things up much faster which supports the sinusallergenirritant theory