Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) Practice Exam

How does a decongestant affect heart rate and blood pressure during exercise?

1. Decreases blood pressure and increases heart rate during exercise

2. Decreases heart rate and increases blood pressure at rest and possibly during exercise

3. Increases blood pressure and increases heart rate at rest and possibly during exercise

4. Minimal effect on heart rate and increases blood pressure during exercise

The correct answer is: Decreases heart rate and increases blood pressure at rest and possibly during exercise

A decongestant works primarily through its active ingredients, such as pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine, which are designed to relieve nasal congestion by constricting blood vessels in the nasal passages. This vasoconstriction often leads to an increase in blood pressure, which can occur both at rest and during exercise, as the body’s demand for blood flow can increase during physical activity. When it comes to heart rate, decongestants can sometimes cause an increase, particularly if the body is responding to the elevated blood pressure created by the medication. However, at rest, the overall effect can vary depending on the individual's physiological response and the specific formulation of the decongestant. During exercise, increased blood pressure can potentially lead to an enhanced cardiac workload, which might affect heart rate but not always downwards. This context aligns well with the choice indicating that decongestants may decrease heart rate while increasing blood pressure at rest and during physical activities. This reflects the typical cardiovascular responses seen with decongestant use, where blood pressure tends to rise while the heart rate might not exhibit a proportional increase, particularly in trained or conditioned individuals.