What Can You Do For Low Blood Pressure

Who Is At Risk For Low Blood Pressure

Low blood pressure can happen to anyone at any age. There are several factors that can predispose some people to it more than others, including:;

• Common medications for conditions like diabetes and Parkinsons disease can cause low blood pressure as a side effect.;
• Diuretics that reduce the bodys salt levels can cause low blood pressure as a side effect.
• Some older adults develop postprandial hypotension, a condition in which blood pressure suddenly drops about one or two hours after eating. ;

When To Seek Medical Care

1See your doctor if you have low blood pressure symptoms. Most of the time, low blood pressure is not a problem unless it causes symptoms. If you experience any of the common symptoms associated with low blood pressure, consult a doctor to walk through your options. They will assess whats going on and recommend medical treatment options if necessary. XTrustworthy SourceMayo ClinicEducational website from one of the world’s leading hospitalsGo to source

Common low blood pressure symptoms include dizziness, lightheadedness, fatigue, nausea and trouble concentrating.

Uncommon symptoms that require medical attention sooner rather than later include fainting, blurred vision, and vomiting.

2Get emergency medical care for signs of shock. If your blood pressure drops extremely low, it can trigger a life-threatening condition called shock. Shock can damage your heart if you dont address it quickly, and you may be at serious risk if it goes completely untreated.XTrustworthy SourceMayo ClinicEducational website from one of the world’s leading hospitalsGo to source

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

You may have low blood pressure if youre pregnant. Take a pregnancy test to see if youre expecting a child!

Low blood pressure can be a symptom of several heart conditions, thyroid issues, dehydration, anemia, or allergies.

Diagnosing The Cause Of Low Blood Pressure

The first key to know how to raise low blood pressure is to detect what causes the problem in the first place. This is something which should only be done by a doctor as they will not only be able to determine major illnesses or underlying conditions, but advise on the most effective course of treatment. The best medical professional to see will be an arterial hypotension specialist as they should have the most comprehensive knowledge on the subject.

However, raising low blood pressure is also about stopping certain actions which might lower blood pressure. This is why we have some general recommendations to help keep a healthy blood pressure level until a specialist can make confirmation of a diagnosis. Until then, keeping an eye on the symptoms and making sure you are not in need of emergency care is important. If you are, then you will need to see a doctor right away.

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Low Blood Pressure Symptoms

Low blood pressure is manifested by various symptoms. They can vary in degree, but also be part of another problem, so it is important to give consideration as well as seeking professional medical advice. Low blood pressure symptoms include:

• Tiredness and constant fatigue
• Dizziness or vertigo
• Having you the feeling you’re going to faint or in some cases even fainting
• Reduced concentration
• Pallid skin color

You are probably wondering how to raise low blood pressure because you have experienced a drop in yours. If this blood pressure drop is due to cardiac problems you will be able to feel the beating of your heart intensely. However, if the pressure drops due to something like internal bleeding, you will see different symptoms such as blood in your stool. When it is due to an infection, a high fever above 38 degrees may develop. If you experience low blood pressure, you should be attentive to any other symptoms and consult your doctor as soon as possible.

Warnings For Other Groups

For pregnant women: Fludrocortisone is a category C pregnancy drug. That means two things:

Research in animals has shown harmful effects to the fetus when the mother takes the drug.

There havent been enough studies done in humans to be certain how the drug might affect the fetus.

Talk to your doctor if youre pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Fludrocortisone should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.

For women who are breastfeeding: Corticosteroids may pass into your breast milk. This could cause side effects in your child if you breastfeed while taking fludrocortisone. You and your doctor may need to decide whether youll take fludrocortisone or breastfeed.

For seniors: If youre 65 years or older, you may be more sensitive to the effects from this medication, including its side effects. Your doctor may give you a smaller dose because too much of this drug in your body can be dangerous

For children: The safety and effectiveness of this drug havent been established in children. Your doctor should monitor your childs growth and development closely because this drug may slow down growth in children.

All possible dosages and forms may not be included here. Your dose, form, and how often you take it will depend on:

• your age
• how severe your condition is
• other medical conditions you have
• how you react to the first dose

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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

A Fast & Easy Solution For Healthy Blood Pressure

There are a few important ways for having healthier blood pressure. – diet and exercise being the two important factors.

Unfortunately, they take time and most people are either NOT patient or need faster results, with less effort…This is the exact problem I ran into with my own parents.

Because of this, I needed to find a simple, easy and fast solution for naturally supporting healthier blood pressure levels in only 30 days, without the use of harmful prescription drugs or following a restrictive diet.

If this is something you’re also interested in, you can easily copy my parent’s “proven formula”, implement it and start seeing and feeling results within days…

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What Are The Potential Complications Of Low Blood Pressure

Because low blood pressure can be due to serious diseases, failure to seek treatment can result in serious complications and permanent damage. Once the underlying cause is diagnosed, it is important for you to follow the treatment plan that you and your health care professional design specifically for you to reduce the risk of potential complications including:

• Brain damage

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.

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How Is Low Blood Pressure Treated

If your blood pressure is naturally low and isnt causing you any problems it probably wont need any treatment. If you have symptoms and your doctor or nurse feels that you would benefit from treatment, they will try to find the cause of your low blood pressure so that they can find the best way to treat it.;

The treatments will vary depending on the cause.

• A change in medications. If your GP thinks that your blood pressure is caused by a medication youre taking they might want to try an alternative medication or a different dose.
• Hormone replacement. If your low blood pressure is caused by a change in certain hormones, for example if your adrenal glands have been damaged, you may be referred to a specialist called an endocrinologist. They might prescribe hormone replacement medication.
• Medicines to stimulate your nerves. If you have a neurological condition, you may be given medicines to stimulate the nerves.
• Medicines for low blood pressure. These medicines narrow your blood vessels or expand the volume of your blood to raise your blood pressure. These are very rarely needed, as the treatments listed above and the changes you can make for yourself are usually enough.

Q What Should You Eat When Experiencing Low Blood Pressure

Along with constantly monitoring your symptoms, and managing your blood pressure, here are some useful diet tips that will help you raise your blood pressure:

• Drinking plenty of fluids- hydration is key, and dehydration can severely affect blood volume.
• Drink plenty of water through the day, especially after a workout session.
• Vitamin B12- lack of vitamin B12 can lead to anemia. So, you have to consume foods like eggs, cereals, and beef to avoid a dip in your blood pressure.
• Folate- folate helps keep blood pressure levels at a steady level, and foods like asparagus, liver, and garbanzo beans are rich in folate.
• Salt: Salty foods are known to increase blood pressure, and you can eat food like smoked fish, cottage cheese, canned soup, and olives.
• Caffeine: Caffeinated tea and coffee can spike your blood pressure by stimulating the cardiovascular system and giving your rate a boost.

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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

Dr Rupali Datta Clinical Dietitian At Fortis

;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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What To Do When Your Blood Pressure Drops Too Low

So, what to do when your blood pressure drops too low? If you are experiencing symptoms of very low blood pressure, for example, dizziness or fainting, it is always advisable to seek medical opinion. As there are various factors that can be the reason why your blood pressure drops too low, the condition should be properly evaluated. It is important to assess the situation and rule out any related serious cause like sudden dehydration, internal bleeding, serious infection or an allergic reaction.

Here are some immediate steps that guide on how to raise the blood pressure if it is too low. These include

• Drink plenty of fluids
• Lie with the feet above heart
• Avoid standing for long as it acts as a trigger for hypotension
• Consume salt or salty food

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.

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Be Still My Heart: How A Heart Rhythm Specialist Can Help

When this happens, electrophysiologists first try and slow theheart rate using medicines, Dr. Taigen says. But these medicines, known asbeta-blockers or calcium channel blockers, can also drop the blood pressure,he notes. Quite often, theres not much room for blood pressure to go lower.

If your blood pressure is too low for medications, aprocedure called direct current cardioversion can get the rhythm back tonormal.

With this procedure, we put pads on the front and back of the chest and sedate the patient for a minute or two, Dr. Taigen explains. When they are asleep, we deliver a shock that stops the heart from beating irregularly, so the natural heartbeat resumes.Once the heart rhythm is back to normal, anelectrophysiologist determines if a more permanent treatment is needed. Thesecould include:

• Ablation: This procedure uses cold orheat energy to stop faulty electrical signals.
• Pacemaker: Doctors place a small deviceunder the skin to send electrical impulses that change the heart rhythm.
• Implantable cardioverter defibrillator :Like a pacemaker, the ICD works by detecting and stopping faulty heart rhythmswith electrical signals.
• Surgery: Surgeons create scar tissue withincisions to permanently interrupt faulty electrical pathways in the heart.

How To Detect Abnormal Blood Pressure

The AHA defines abnormal blood pressure readings in non-pregnant adults as follows:

• Elevated blood pressure is a systolic number between 120 and 129 and a diastolic number lower than 80.
• In stage 1 hypertension, the systolic number is between 130 and 139 or the diastolic number is between 80 and 89.
• In stage 2 hypertension, the systolic number is 140 or higher or the diastolic number is 90 or higher.
• In a hypertensive crisis, the systolic number is higher than 180 and/or the diastolic number is higher than 120.

You may not always be able to tell whether your blood pressure is too high or too low. In fact, hypertension and hypotension may not cause noticeable symptoms. If you do experience symptoms, they may include the following:

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What Are The Treatments For Low Blood Pressure

The treatments for low blood pressure depend on what caused the condition. Your doctor will work with you to address the cause of the hypotension. In severe cases of hypotension, your doctor may give you IV fluids to raise your blood pressure.

Depending on a variety of factors, such as your age and the type of hypotension, your doctor may recommend one or more of the following: dietary changes, lifestyle changes and/or medications.

To make dietary changes, your doctor might tell you to:

• Stay hydrated by drinking more water throughout the day.
• Drink less alcohol.
• Increase your salt intake slightly because sodium raises blood pressure.
• Eat smaller, healthy meals and limit carbohydrates.

You can take several steps to avoid a sudden drop in blood pressure. Your doctor may recommend that you make the following lifestyle changes:

• Wear compression stockings.
• Get up slowly after youve been sitting or lying down.
• Avoid standing for long periods of time.
• Sit up and breathe deeply for a few minutes before getting out of bed.

Your doctor might prescribe medications like:

• Fludrocortisone, which increases blood volume.
• Midodrine, which increases blood pressure.

What Are The Side Effects Of The Treatment For Low Blood Pressure

There are no side effects for the lifestyle and dietary changes that can treat hypotension.

The medications used to treat hypotension have several side effects, some of which may be serious. Fludrocortisone can make certain infections worse, so its essential to discuss this medication with your doctor. The most common side effects from fludrocortisone are:

• Increased risk of infection.

The most common side effects from midodrine are:

• Numbness or tingling.
• Goosebumps and chills.

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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.