Heart Disease: Considering Cold Relief Colds and the flu can be
serious for people with heart disease. Not only are you at risk
for pneumonia, but it’s hard to tell whether your symptoms are a
sign of a cold or of worsening heart failure. And if you do have
a cold, you may not be able to take over-the-counter (OTC)
medicines to help you feel better. Drugs such as ibuprofen,
naproxen, or diclofenac, for example, also called nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), can cause you to retain fluid
and make your heart failure worse. Also, many OTC cold
medicines, including nasal sprays, contain decongestants like
phenylephrine, pseudoephedrine, oxymetazoline, and naphazoline,
that can raise blood pressure and interfere with prescription
medicines. Prevention is the best medicine for a cold or the
flu. Ask your health care provider about when and how to get a
flu and pneumonia vaccine. Avoid contact with people who have
colds, and wash your hands often. If you feel a cold coming on,
talk with your health care