No, a cold would not really raise the blood pressure. Must be something else. But some cold medicines (decongestants) can.

If you are having respiratory symptoms with the cold, it can raise your blood pressure, as can a fever.

Additionally you might want to watch what medicines you take for the cold. Many CAN raise your blood pressure, regardless of age.

Cold simply cannot cause high BP unless complicated with
respiratory complications. You have to get your BP checked
daily for few days .Eat healthy food and do not take fried and
junk food, coffee or soft drinks.Rule out if you have any woories.

Cold does not increase B.P.If at the end of a work out you had this reading without any other sympom like breathlessness rest for a few days and have another reading.

You don’t always feel side effects from high blood pressure. That is why it is called the silent killer. I would drop the caffeine altogether, and reduce your salt and sugar intake. I’ve had borderline blood pressure, and a nurse advised to do this (it worked). I assume you eat properly, eating lots of vegetables and fruits, but if you don’t, then you need to start. In my case, I was drinking 3 Cokes a day, and I almost killed myself. Once I stopped, my pressure became normal.

What was the reading at your doctor’s office? Could it be a problem with the blood pressure machine at the gym? Also, blood pressure can go up for a little while if there is anxiety involved. Is there something you are a little anxious about at the gym? Many people get blood pressure going higher when they go to doctor’s – it’s called white coat syndrome. To test for that they make you wear a blood pressure machine for a couple of days and do a reading of the two or three days to what the overall blood pressure would be. So, if you aren’t taking medicine, my next question would be (and I’m thinking caffeine or ephedrine or both), since you work out so seriously, are you taking supplements or sports drinks or anything like that? Take a look at the label. Be careful of caffeine if you drink coffee or soft drinks with caffeine, and ephedrine, stop taking it! It’s dangerous. Hope this helps.

If you are in respiratory distress, yes, it will be effecting your BP. If the cold is that severe, that your breathing is compromised, it could elevate your blood pressure. On the other hand, so can other “hidden” distresses, which the CMP (bloodwork) should most likely reveal.