Coronavirus vaccine: Is it normal for your blood pressure to rise post-vaccination? Here's what you should know

While COVID vaccination drives have picked up pace, there are also some side effects that can happen once the jab is injected into the body. Fever, weakness, malaise, pain at the injection site being some of the common ones. However, that being said, there could also be some unusual reactions that can strike.

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Many people, for example, are right now reporting a flare-up in their blood pressure levels post COVID vaccination.

According to a series of reports from Switzerland, several people experienced hypertension minutes following vaccination events. In India too, case studies to have come forward mention claims of a rise in blood pressure levels following COVID vaccination.

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While hypertension isn't a side-effect classified by medical authorities, the worrying trend of episodes, especially for those at risk of cardiac disease and complications is concerning. But when should you raise flags and seek help?

From what has been seen so far, a small percentage of people from Switzerland, who received requisite doses of mRNA vaccines developed extreme hypertension minutes after vaccination. Amongst the reported cases, most patients were over the age of 70 and male. 8 out of 9 patients were previously diagnosed with hypertension.

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In India, while there's not much knowledge that lingers around the matter, several vaccination studies have come forward which mention people recording extremely high blood pressure levels after being inoculated with either Covishield or Covaxin, the two jabs which are available in India.

To date, hypertension or an apparent change in blood pressure readings is not a mentioned side-effect of any of the COVID-19 vaccines.

Rising blood pressure levels haven't also been mentioned as an explicit adverse reaction in either of the safety or clinical trials conducted so far.

However, emerging data present hypertension to be a strange side-effect many may experience after getting a jab of the vaccine.

People who underwent hypertension also recorded symptoms like a headache, chest pain, anxiety and sweating, all associated with a rise in blood pressure levels.

While it is being considered as a 'rare' side-effect, experts suggest that hypertension may not be a symptomatic side-effect in itself, but one which may be resulting from stress associated with vaccination.

Another reason fueling the apparent rise in blood pressure levels has also been linked to the 'white-coat effect, which causes blood pressure readings to be relatively high in diagnostic settings, in comparison to other places.

While inconclusive, risk factors for hypertension may also be determined by one's apparent risk for cardiac complications, age and other preconditions which may go unnoticed.

While experts have right now dismissed blood pressure flare-ups as a 'concerning' side-effect with COVID vaccines, it has been stressed that people at risk shouldn't consider rising blood pressure levels a reason enough to delay or dismiss vaccination. Delaying vaccination may also make one prone to adverse COVID complications right now.

As for heart patients, getting the vaccine is absolutely safe and not contra indicatory. Rising blood pressure might be a 'rare' and concerning event right now, but can be well-managed. COVID vaccines are also being continuously evaluated, so we'll need more research to study whether this potential side-effect can be threatening.

If you have a prior history of cardiovascular complications or have been taking medications for a while, do not attempt to curtail off your medications in lieu of vaccination. Keep taking all medications, maintain proper records and most of all, be aware of the side effects beforehand. Consult a doctor before getting vaccinated, if you are someone who may be more at risk right now.