Low Blood Pressure Diet: What To Eat To Help Raise Low Blood Pressure
If your blood pressure is low, it can lead to health problems like feeling weak or dizzy, feeling confused and fainting. But there are changes you can make to your diet to help raise your blood pressure to a healthy level.
A low blood pressure diet isnt too difficult to follow and can help raise low blood pressure just by eating certain foods.
Low blood pressure is a reading of less than 90/60mmHg on a sphygmomanometer . Having low blood pressure can impact your every day life as it can cause people to feel weak, confused, and unlike themselves. This is often accompanied with feelings of sickness and even fainting. So it can be detrimental to daily life. Thankfully though, theres some simple ways to help raise your blood pressure, including some changes to your diet.
We spoke to registered nutritionist Jo Travers, founder of The London Nutritionist and author of The Low-Fad Diet, about what causes low blood pressure and what you can do to help.
When To Seek Medical Care
Go to the emergency room if you experience the following symptoms:
Confusion
Pale skin that feels cold or clammy
Quick, shallow breathing
A pulse that is fast and weak
What Other Medications Can Accidentally Cause Low Blood Pressure
There are a variety of other medications that can unintentionally cause your blood pressure to drop, including cardiovascular drugs, diuretics, and beta blockers that are used to treat high blood pressure. Drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction can also result in low blood pressure, as can certain antidepressants, as well as medications prescribed for Parkinsons disease.
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Eat Foods High In Sodium
Foods that are high in sodium can increase blood pressure. When adding salt to your food, avoid high amounts. Because high amounts of salt can raise blood pressure too much. Try to prefer healthy salts like Himalayan salt. Himalayan salt is rich in sodium and other minerals like potassium and calcium. Avoid refined and processed salty foods and prefer sodium-rich foods such as sea beans, olives, cheese and tuna
Normalize Your Blood Sugar
Blood sugar affects blood pressure. In fact, having high blood sugar levels is one of the causing factors of high blood pressure. On the other hand, having low blood sugar can lower blood pressure.
So your goal is to keep your blood sugar levels steady not high or low.
Eating smaller, frequent meals helps.
Having some fiber and fat with each meal also prevents blood sugar spikes.
Having more natural carbs such as vegetables, fruits, yams, legumes, and so forth is also better.
Thus, avoiding sugars, juices, sodas, processed carbs, and so forth.
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Symptoms Of Low Blood Pressure In Elderly Individuals
As long as you feel OK, a low blood pressure reading is generally nothing to worry about. Doctors are not usually concerned about a low BP in otherwise healthy individuals.
So, when is blood pressure too low? You should see your healthcare provider if you experience hypotension symptoms such as:
- Dizziness
- Confusion or inability to concentrate
- Nausea
- An irregular or rapid heartbeat
- Weakness
How To Raise Low Blood Pressure With Home Remedies
There are some plants and products that for generations have been used as home remedies for high blood pressure. Over time, science has come to agree with these ancient practices and in UNCOMO we explain their benefits:
- Ginger: it is a great ally to improve hypotension because promotes blood circulation. Take a piece of fresh ginger, grate it and place it in some water. Let it boil for a few minutes and drink it. If you suffer from low blood pressure you can take this home remedy twice a day.
- Ginseng: it is another stimulant for blood supply, especially in the brain area, helping to feel more energetic and healthy and contributing to the rise in blood pressure.
- Tablespoon saltIf you have sudden low blood pressure and you dont know how to raise your blood pressure naturally, a good quick home remedy is to drink a glass of water with a tablespoon of salt. This will help raise your pressure and make you feel better, of course it is a specific solution for a specific descent and not a remedy that must be ingested on a regular basis.
These recommendations and home remedies can help you know how to raise your blood pressure at home, avoid drops in pressure and improve your condition. But you must consult a doctor If you experience frequent episodes, it could be an important condition that requires the attention of a specialist.
If you want to read more articles similar to How to raise blood pressure quickly, we recommend that you enter our category of Diseases and side effects.
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What Foods Raise Blood Pressure
Since low blood pressure can cause dehydration, you should make sure you drink more water before making any other changes to your diet. Jo advises: Because of the prevalence of dehydration, I always recommend increasing fluid intake before doing anything else.
But when it comes to raising blood pressure, salt is actually a great way to bring it back to a normal level long term. But you should be careful before introducing more salt into your diet. Jo adds, Salt is the key dietary component to raise blood pressure long term. But always check with the GP before doing this because there can be adverse side effects.
How Much Salt Is Too Much
Though it depends on each individuals health, Dr. Patel generally recommends the following daily salt consumptions depending on your blood pressure reading:
- At least 6 grams for individuals with low blood pressure
- Around 4 grams for individuals with normal blood pressure
- Less than 2 grams for individuals with high blood pressure
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Boost Your B12 Intake
Vitamin B12 performs a critical role in helping the body produce healthy red blood cells. Lack of this important vitamin can result in anemia, which lowers blood pressure and can result in excessive bleeding as well as organ and nerve damage. Foods that are rich in vitamin B12 include eggs, chicken, fish like salmon and tuna, and low-fat dairy products.
What To Eat To Help Raise Low Blood Pressure
Low blood pressure can be caused by a variety of factors, including medication side effects and conditions like diabetes. What you eat also has a notable impact on your heart health and blood pressure. Here are eight diet tips that might help raise your blood pressure back up to a healthy level.
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More Common Side Effects
The more common side effects that can occur with fludrocortisone include:
- salt and water retention. This can lead to:
- high blood pressure
- glaucoma
- increased blood sugar levels
- weight gain
- deposits of fatty tissue throughout your body. This may cause a full, rounded face or a hump on your back.
Mild side effects may go away within few days. Talk to your doctor or your pharmacist if theyre bothersome or dont go away.
What Are Treatments For Low Blood Pressure
According to Dr. Laffin, If you’re underweight, working to healthfully increase your weight and muscle mass will help to increase your blood pressure.
Dr. Laffin also recommends the following:
- Hydrate often to prevent dehydration. When youre dehydrated, your blood volume drops and, as a result, so does your blood pressure. Drinking adequate fluids increases the volume of your blood. Remember to drink before youre thirsty, which is often a sign that you’re already dehydrated.
- Eat multiple small meals throughout the day instead of three large ones. This prevents too much blood flowing to your gut to aid in digestion.
- Get up from a seated or lying position gradually rather than bolting upright.
- Take blood pressure lowering medications at night. Most BP medications last 24-hours, but the peak effect occurs two to three hours after we take them. If taken at night, this will be while youre sleeping and help you to avoid your blood pressure getting too low while you’re awake.
- Avoid very hot showers or visiting saunas, hot tubs, or steam rooms. They dilate blood vessels, causing blood pressure to drop.
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Can You Be Healthy And Have Low Blood Pressure
According to Luke Laffin MD, a preventive cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic, There are many normal reasons for lower blood pressure, including younger age and small stature. Some people just have a genetic predisposition to low blood pressure.
Generally, if there are no symptoms, low blood pressure is not considered a problem. Though some people do naturally have blood pressure that tends to be on the low side and have no symptoms.
How To Raise Low Blood Pressure Naturally
- Chronic Disease
Blood pressure levels change during the day. Your body constantly works on balancing your blood pressure. This helps your vital organs including your brain and lungs to get enough blood and oxygen to function better.
Having low blood pressure once in a while isnt like to cause concern. But having it regularly can be because of reasons such as diabetes, anemia, hypothyroidism, pregnancy or mildly happen when you stand up and after you eat.
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Signs Of Low Blood Pressure
When your blood pressure is lower than normal, you can feel it through symptoms of low blood pressure. Also known as hypotension, low blood pressure can show signs such as headache, dizziness, blurred vision, low-headedness, nausea and similar. Having low blood pressure can lead to insufficient blood and oxygen to some parts of your body.
Just like high blood pressure , low blood pressure may come with no symptoms. Thats why if you think you have low blood pressure, make sure you check your blood pressure level. If your blood pressure level is lower than 90/60 mm Hg, you have low blood pressure. Healthy blood pressure is about 120/80 mm Hg. With the steps below, you can maintain healthy levels of blood pressure.
Do Compression Socks Raise Low Blood Pressure
One lifestyle measure often recommended to raise blood pressure are compression socks, which are stockings that put gentle pressure on your legs to move blood up to the heart.
“Compression socks increase the blood return to the heart, which helps to raise the overall blood pressure,” says Keyes. This is critical for anyone who is experiencing blood pooling in the legs, which frequently occurs with orthostatic hypotension.
However, Keyes says it’s important to talk to your doctor before wearing compression stockings, since they may not be recommended in the presence of other health conditions, such as certain forms of heart failure and peripheral vascular disease.
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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
How Would I Know If I Have Low Blood Pressure
The only way to tell would be to get your blood pressure checked, he confirms. Any reading under 90/60 millimeters of mercury is considered low.
However, there may be signs including:
- Lightheadedness
- Dizziness
- Fainting
These symptoms tend to occur more when someone goes from lying down or sitting to then standing, he adds.
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How Can You Prevent Low Blood Pressure
You may be able to prevent hypotension by making changes to your lifestyle and diet, such as:
- Eating fewer carbohydrates and choosing small, healthy meals.
- Staying hydrated and avoiding alcoholic drinks.
- Rising slowly when youve been sitting or lying down.
- Taking a few deep breaths before you change position.
- Wearing compression stockings.
What Causes Low Blood Pressure
There are several causes of low blood pressure. Some are temporary and can be easily fixed.
Low blood pressure may also be a sign of a health issue or emergency condition. Treatment may be necessary.
Several health conditions can cause low blood pressure. These include:
- trauma or head injury
Diagnosing and treating these conditions can help balance blood pressure. Your doctor may recommend simple tests such as:
- blood tests to check hormone levels, blood sugar levels, and for infections
- an electrocardiogram or Holter monitor to check heart rhythm and function
- an echocardiogram to check your heart health
- an exercise stress test to check your heart health
- a tilt table test to check low blood pressure due to changes in body position
- the Valsalva maneuver, a breathing test to check for nervous system causes of low blood pressure
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Drink Plenty Of Water
Dehydration can sometimes lead to low blood pressure. Some people may have hypotension even with mild dehydration.
You can also get dehydrated by losing water too quickly. This can happen through vomiting, severe diarrhea, fever, strenuous exercise, and excess sweating. Medications such as diuretics may also cause dehydration.
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You can also eat foods high in vitamin B-12, as a B-12 deficiency can lead to anemia. Foods high in this vitamin include eggs, fortified cereals, animal meats, and nutritional yeast.
Folate is another essential vitamin to raise blood pressure and is found in foods like asparagus, broccoli, liver, lentils and chickpeas.
So, to re-cap, the key components for a low blood pressure diet are:
- Drink more water
- Incorporate more salty foods into your diet
- Eat foods high in vitamin B-12
- Get more vitamin B9 into your diet through green veg, lentils and chickpeas
- Be careful not to skip meals on a regular basis
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Who Is Affected By Low Blood Pressure
Low blood pressure can affect people of all ages, although it is more common in older people who are frail or bedridden. Pregnant women and older adults are more likely to have orthostatic hypotension. Children and young adults are most likely to experience neurally mediated hypotension, but they often outgrow it.
Hypotension commonly affects people who:
- Are taking certain medications that cause low blood pressure.
- Have hormonal imbalances or vitamin deficiencies.
- Also have heart problems or liver disease.
How Is Low Blood Pressure Diagnosed And Treated
People quite often dont know they have low blood pressure until their doctor tells them during a routine checkup. Your doctor may advise you at that time to add more salt to your diet.
If more direct intervention is needed, you could be prescribed medication or even given an intravenous line to relieve dehydration.
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Fludrocortisone May Interact With Other Medications
Fludrocortisone oral tablet can interact with other medications, vitamins, or herbs you may be taking. An interaction is when a substance changes the way a drug works. This can be harmful or prevent the drug from working well.
To help avoid interactions, your doctor should manage all of your medications carefully. Be sure to tell your doctor about all medications, vitamins, or herbs youre taking. To find out how this drug might interact with something else youre taking, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Examples of drugs that can cause interactions with fludrocortisone are listed below.
Treatment Of Low Diastolic Blood Pressure
Treating isolated diastolic hypotension is more difficult than treating general hypotension. If youre taking an alpha-blocker, your doctor can change you to a different high blood pressure medication.
If you have isolated low diastolic pressure and youre not on blood pressure medication, the only option may be to see your doctor more frequently for checkups and to watch for symptoms of heart failure. Currently, there isnt any medication available to treat isolated diastolic hypotension.
Treatment of general hypotension depends on the cause.
Overtreatment of high blood pressure can be managed by adjusting or changing medications. The goal is to keep the diastolic blood pressure between 60 and 90 mm Hg. Your doctor may also change other medications that cause hypotension.
Dehydration can be treated with fluid replacement. In some cases, you may need medications that increase blood pressure.
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Serious Injuries And Shock
Low blood pressure can also be caused by serious injuries or burns, particularly if you have lost a lot of blood. This can mean that there is less blood being pumped around your body. Low blood pressure can also occur if you go into shock after having a serious injury.
Other kinds of shock are described below.
Anaphylactic shock
Anaphylactic shock, or anaphylaxis, is caused by an allergic reaction to something – for example, a wasp sting or a peanut. During an allergic reaction, your body produces a large amount of a chemical called histamine, which causes your blood vessels to widen and leads to a sudden, severe drop in blood pressure.
Cardiogenic shock
Cardiogenic shock occurs when your heart cannot supply enough blood to your body, so your blood pressure drops. This can happen during a heart attack.