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How To Deal With Low Blood Pressure

Types Of Hypotension And Its Causes

Low Blood Pressure Treatment and Low Blood Pressure Symptoms

There are several types of hypotension based on the causes of the disorder:Primary hypotension is the most common form of hypotension for which the cause of its occurrence cannot be determined. Some patients are prone to inherit essential hypotension. This problem mostly affects adolescents and middle-aged people as well as slim and tall women.

Secondary hypotension This type of hypotension is a consequence of other diseases, adverse behavior, or the use of certain classes of drugs. Low blood pressure is a frequent symptom in the course of cardiovascular diseases, diseases of the endocrine glands , and infections of various etiologies. Drugs, especially antihypertensive drugs or drugs used in the treatment of Parkinsons disease also have an impact on lowering blood pressure.

Orthostatic hypotension manifested by sudden pressure drops associated with changes in body position . This type of hypotension occurs primarily in elderly people with circulatory disorders.

Perk Up With Caffeine

One study found that when caffeine was administered after a meal, it prevented the postprandial fall in blood pressure in elderly, fit participants. So ending your meal with a cup of coffee might be useful in tackling low blood pressure.8

However, do keep in mind that coffee may have beneficial as well as adverse effects it could help lower your risk for diabetes and kidney stone but might increase your risk for heart disease and stroke. So if youre not a regular coffee drinker, do speak to your doctor before increasing your caffeine intake.9

How Is Blood Pressure Measured

Doctors use a blood pressure cuff to check your blood pressure. When blood pressure is checked, two numbers are recorded. For example, your blood pressure might be 120/80, called “120 over 80.”

  • The higher number is the highest pressure in the arteries, which happens when your heart pushes the blood out

  • The lower number is the lowest pressure in the arteries, which happens when your heart is relaxed just before it begins to start to push blood out

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What Are Low Blood Pressure Symptoms

If symptoms occur at all, the most common ones are dizziness and lightheadedness, or fainting. When low blood pressure stems from an underlying medical problems, symptoms may include lack of concentration blurred vision nausea cold, clammy, pale skin rapid, shallow breathing fatigue, depression and thirst.

Low Blood Pressure Also Known As Hypotension Is When You Have A Blood Pressure Level That Is Below The Normal Range

know the home remedies to deal with low blood pressure

If your blood pressure is naturally low, this probably wont cause you any problems and wont need treating. In fact, the lower your blood pressure, the lower your risk of heart disease and stroke.

Low blood pressure can sometimes be caused by medications or can be a sign of another health problem. This can sometimes cause problems such as falls, fainting and feeling dizzy, so it might need looking into and treating. Speak to your doctor or nurse if youre worried about low blood pressure.

Plus, take a look at the animation below on how to manage low blood pressure when you stand up.

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When Should You Call Your Doctor About Low Blood Pressure

If you have recurring dizziness or fainting, or other symptoms of low blood pressure, you should visit your doctor. Sudden drops in blood pressure can be dangerous. It is important for your doctor to determine why your blood pressure is dropping and treat the cause.

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 10/08/2019.

References

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Cut Down On Rapidly Digested Carbs

Foods like white rice, white bread, sugary drinks, and potatoes are quickly digested and passed from your stomach to your small intestine. This leads to postprandial hypotension. So cutting back on foods like this and adding more foods that are slowly digested for instance, protein, beans, and whole grains can help prevent your blood pressure from dipping too low after a meal.11

You’re Nervous Or Stressed

Elder Care: Dealing With Low & High Blood Pressure

This is very common because stress can have such an impact on the body. If you’re anxious about something in particular , you’re probably going to end up getting a reading that is higher than usual.

On the other hand, if you are relaxed and calm when your blood pressure is checked, it’s possible that your reading will be lower. Your mental state has

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Treating Low Blood Pressure

The main goal in treating low blood pressure during pregnancy is symptom reduction, especially if you are experiencing dizziness and fainting. For the most part, many people can manage symptoms of low blood pressure with lifestyle modifications, such as:

  • Staying hydrated
  • Consuming enough calories to support you and your baby
  • Avoiding standing for long periods of time
  • Moving slowly from a supine or prone position to a standing position

Blood pressure tends to be lower when a person is at rest and can cause blood to pool in the legs, so it’s important to move positions or get up from a seated or reclining position slowly to avoid the onset of symptoms, such as dizziness or fainting.

If a patient is on a medication that may cause low blood pressure, we would recommend discontinuing the medication, explains Atlas. Like high blood pressure, treating low blood pressure with medication during pregnancy is only recommended when absolutely necessaryand only with medications known to be safe during pregnancy.

Treatment Of Low Blood Pressure

Unless accompanied by other conditions, low blood pressure is usually easy to treat and does not require much medication. Often, a low blood pressure diet may be prescribed, or a change in lifestyle may become necessary. Common recommendations include:

Increased intake of water: Dehydration can cause an electrolyte imbalance resulting in signs of low blood pressure, and care towards adequate hydration would be important, especially in high temperature situations, during fevers or dysentery.

Increased sodium in diet: Salted nuts, cheeses and cured fish and meats are high in sodium content, and would help stabilize blood pressure in case it is very low. Care must be taken to not overdo it, however, and for a balance to be maintained.

Limiting alcohol consumption: Alcohol consumption can cause fluctuation in heart rate and limiting its consumption for some time will help alleviate symptoms of low blood pressure in otherwise healthy individuals.

Exercise: Light exercises not involving much strain to the body help improve circulation of blood throughout, and keep the heart healthy. In cases of low blood pressure, it is important to be aware of its symptoms such as palpitations and cold skin so that exercising does not aggravate the condition.

Ceasing any aggravating medication:If intake of certain medication is seen to cause dips in blood pressure, your doctor may recommend a substitute for the drug, or even stopping its consumption till pressure is stabilized.

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When To Contact A Medical Professional

If low blood pressure causes a person to pass out , seek treatment right away. Or call 911 or the local emergency number. If the person is not breathing or has no pulse, begin CPR.

  • Black or maroon stools

Hypotension Blood pressure – low Postprandial hypotension Orthostatic hypotension Neurally mediated hypotension NMH

How Do Doctors Treat Low Blood Pressure

Dealing with Hypotension (Low blood pressure)

Doctors need to treat the cause of low blood pressure. For example, if you’re bleeding, they may do surgery to stop it. If you have an infection, they’ll give you antibiotics. But whatever the cause, they need to raise your blood pressure.

The main treatment to raise your blood pressure is:

  • IV fluids

If you’ve lost a lot of blood, doctors may give you:

  • Blood transfusions

If your blood pressure is still low after you’ve had enough IV fluids and blood to fill up your blood vessels, doctors may give you medicines to raise your blood pressure. These medicines make your heart beat harder and make your blood vessels narrower. These medicines can be dangerous, so you’ll be watched very closely while receiving them.

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Q How Do I Know If I Have Low Blood Pressure

  • If you suffer from any of the symptoms of low blood pressure as listed above, such as frequent palpitations, irregular breathing, instances of loss of consciousness, skin that is often cold and clammy to the touch, you may be suffering from low blood pressure. It is best to check with your doctor before implementing any low blood pressure diet or lifestyle change.
  • Diet And Nutrition For Low Blood Pressure

    A balanced meal with complex carbohydrates, fish, lean meat, fruits and cooked vegetables goes a long way in preventing hypotension. Changing meal patterns to make them more frequent and less heavy prevent as well as address postprandial fatigue and hypotension.

    On diagnosis of a dip in BP, a low blood pressure diet that supplies adequate sodium, and potassium while maintaining blood sugar levels is generally recommended for patients.Increased consumption of non-alcoholic beverages helps maintain adequate hydration and is recommended. Increasing salt quantities or addition of soy sauce in everyday cooking is a simple change that combats effects of low blood pressure and may be suggested by your doctor.

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    How Low Blood Pressure Is Treated

    Low blood pressure is typically not a serious problem unless it causes symptoms and complications like fainting, dizziness, confusion, and shock. In many cases, simple adjustments to ones lifestyle, diet, and habits are all that’s needed to treat low blood pressure successfully. In other cases, medication may be prescribed to raise the blood pressure back to a normal range.

    Ways To Deal With Low Blood Pressure

    Low Blood Pressure HYPOTENSION (How to self treat)

    Now that the causes and symptoms of low blood pressure have been known, it is important to know how to deal with low BP. Though mild low blood pressure without any signs and symptoms do not require any treatment, if they are serious, see a doctor and treat the problem. The mild and moderate conditions can be dealt with some simple lifestyle changes which help in stabilizing the low blood pressure condition. These include:

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    Parkinsons Disease And Low Blood Pressure Whats The Link

    Low blood pressure is one of the most common non-motor signs of Parkinsons disease that affects one in 5 people with the disease . Although the problem can appear at any stage, people with mid and late-stage of Parkinsons disease are generally more affected.

    For most patients, drop in the blood pressure happens early in the morning or after taking medication. For others, it can occur at any time of the day.

    Research shows that lower blood pressure appears many years before the development of motor symptoms . Therefore, it is now being considered as one of the early warning signs of Parkinsons disease development.

    High Blood Pressure Complications

    While many women who have hypertension prior to pregnancy do very well, there are some potential complications to be aware of. You and your doctor will come up with a plan to manage your symptoms. Additionally, women who have chronic or gestational hypertension are at risk of developing preeclampsia in their second or third trimesters.

    Physiologically, the effects of progesterone typically lower blood pressure during the first and second trimester of pregnancy, according to Robert Atlas, MD, an OB/GYN who specializes in high-risk pregnancy issues at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, MD. Blood pressure will return back to pre-pregnancy levels in the third trimester.

    Additionally, he says the following are some of the more common complications associated with high blood pressure in pregnancy:

    • 20% to 30% chance of developing superimposed preeclampsia, if you have hypertension prior to pregnancy
    • Increased risk of preterm birth
    • Increased risk of fetal growth problems, which may result in low birth weight
    • Women who have underlying kidney problems have an even higher risk of blood pressure complications in pregnancy

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    Research For Your Health

    The NHLBI is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health the Nations biomedical research agency that makes important scientific discovery to improve health and save lives. We are committed to advancing science and translating discoveries into clinical practice to promote the prevention and treatment of heart, lung, blood, and sleep disorders, including problems associated with low blood pressure. Learn about current and future NHLBI efforts to improve health through research and scientific discovery.

    Dr Rupali Datta Clinical Dietitian At Fortis

    Low Blood Pressure, how to deal with it?

    1. Eat small portions frequently: Sneak healthy snacking sessions in-between the major meals of the day to avoid long gaps. Eating small portions several times of the day helps in preventing the sudden drop in blood pressure that one may experience after meals. So, if you are eating three full meals a day, it would be better to rather have them distributed in to five small meals a day. This one’s a great home remedy for also people who have diabetes.

    Home remedies for low blood pressure: eat small portions frequently

    2. Have adequate salt: Excess salt is bad, but on the other hand it is required by your body in moderate quantities. According to the World Health Organisation, your daily diet must contain at one teaspoon of added salt besides what you derive from natural from fruits and vegetables. In summers or if you exercise daily, keep some lime water with a pinch of salt handy. Salt works like an instant pick-me-up. Make sure you do not have too much salt too that may lead to problems like water retention along with high blood pressure.

    Home remedies for low blood pressure: Excess salt is bad, but it is required by your body in moderate quantitiesHome remedies for low blood pressure: Drink at least 2 to 3 litres of water every dayHome remedies for low blood pressure: Caffeinated beverages like tea or coffee may help boost your blood pressureHome remedies for low blood pressure: Chew five to six tulsi leaves every morning

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    Ayurvedic Remedies For Low Blood Pressure

    According to Ayurveda, low blood pressure is caused by vitiation of vayu in the body. It considers a nutritious, balanced diet with proteins and carbohydrates to be helpful for people with this condition. Dry fruits, chicken, rabbit, mutton, soups of black gram and meat, legumes, and fruits like mangoes, apples, bananas, and grapes are especially recommended. People with low blood pressure are also advised to avoid strenuous exercise.17

    Scary Blood Pressure Reading Here’s What To Do

    Scary blood pressure readings happen. It can be shocking when you get a high reading, and it can be even more terrifying if the reading is low. When this happens, though, it’s essential to know what your next steps should be. On this page, we will discuss some of the most common causes for a high or low blood pressure reading and how to deal with them so you can get back to living life without worrying about your health!

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    What Are The Symptoms Of Low Blood Pressure

    It is important to recognize that low blood pressure can cause no symptoms at all, and is a common normal finding in young people and athletes. However, in some people, low blood pressure causes symptoms which can significantly interfere with their quality of life. These can include syncope , pre-syncope , sweating, tiredness, slow thinking , nausea, visual blurring, hearing disturbances, headache, palpitations, neck pain, breathlessness and chest pain.A drop in systolic BP of 60 mmHg or more is usually associated with loss of consciousness.

    What causes low blood pressure?

    There are many factors which can contribute to low blood pressure. In some people, they only have one factor such as fear. In others, there is a combination which add together to cause problems, such as prolonged standing, heat, alcohol and hyperventilation may also contribute.

    It occurs more often in older people who are taking a lot of medication. However, it can cause symptoms in younger people. There may be underlying medical conditions such as joint hypermobility syndrome, diabetes, parkinsons disease, addisons disease or autonomic failure. Dehydration, hunger*, low body weight and deconditioning can reduce blood pressure.

    What Is Low Blood Pressure

    Lower Blood Pressure Quick with Water Fast Better than Medications or Herbs

    Low blood pressure occurs when blood pressure drops below the normal range. Doctors generally define low blood pressure as 90/60 mm Hg or below, commonly said as 90 over 60 Usually, doctors only treat hypotension if it is severe enough to cause symptoms.

    Low blood pressure can be temporary, or it can be a chronic condition. The main types of hypotension are:

    • Orthostatic hypotension: People with orthostatic hypotension feel faint or lightheaded when they stand up or change position suddenly.
    • Postprandial hypotension: This condition causes people to feel lightheaded or dizzy after eating a meal because their blood pressure drops suddenly.
    • Neurally mediated hypotension: People with this disorder feel faint, dizzy, and nauseous after exercising or standing for a long time.
    • Severe hypotension linked to shock: Shock is the most extreme form of hypotension. When a person is in shock, blood pressure drops to dangerously low levels, and the brain and organs cant get enough blood to function.

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