Will a cortisone shot increase your blood pressure and if so for how long?

Yes, a cortisone shot can increase your blood pressure. The increase in blood pressure is usually seen within a few hours of receiving the shot and can last for a few days. However, in some cases, it can persist for longer.

The reason why cortisone shots can lead to high blood pressure is thought to be due to several factors:

- Water retention caused by a corticosteroid is called fluid retention or edema.

- This process of water retention involves increasing blood volume causing it to be pumped against more resistance, therefore, increasing your blood pressure.

- Inflammation, which causes high blood pressure by leading to reduced nitric oxide activity and increased angiotensin II activity in blood vessels. Additionally, inflammation affects insulin levels by making muscles, liver, and fat tissues become more insulin resistant leading to high blood pressure through changes in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), which regulates hormones.

Your doctor can recommend ways to control your blood pressure if he determines it has climbed because of a cortisone shot. If high blood pressure persists more than 2 weeks post the injection speak with your healthcare provider because the high blood pressure might not be attributable to your cortisone injections.