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 Is High Blood Pressure Diagnosed
High blood pressure usually has no symptoms. So the only way to find out if you have it is to get regular blood pressure checks from your health care provider. Your provider will use a gauge, a stethoscope or electronic sensor, and a blood pressure cuff. He or she will take two or more readings at separate appointments before making a diagnosis.
| Blood Pressure Category | |
|---|---|
| and | 120 or higher |
For children and teens, the health care provider compares the blood pressure reading to what is normal for other kids who are the same age, height, and gender.
People with diabetes or chronic kidney disease should keep their blood pressure below 130/80.
Foods To Eat And Avoid And Workouts To Raise Blood Pressure
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Delia Rimes
“I m normally have high blood pressure, and I take two meds for that . Every now and then it will take a nose-dive out of nowhere. On two separate occasions, it will do this while I sleep, even to the point of passing out. Tonight was the second time. It is very scary to pass out while you sleep. I also have obstructive sleep apnea. When I was growing up, my mom would pour cola syrup into a cup of crushed ice and I’d sip on it. I also used to carry smelling salts.”…” moreRated this article:
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Foods And Drinks Eaten Out
Whether it is a fast-food spot or a high-end restaurant, many dishes on the menu have hidden high-sodium content. This can also apply to the specialty places that offer low-fat meals.
An appetizer and starting drink alone can contain more sodium than the recommended daily amount, and this is before an entrée is consumed. To control sodium intake and still enjoy eating out, request the dish be made with no added salt and have spices used for flavoring.
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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Foods High In Tyramine
Tyramine 1 is an amino acid that helps regulate blood pressure. It can trigger nerve cells to release norepinephrine, a hormone that increases the heart rate and blood pressure 2.
A large dietary intake of tyramine can cause the tyramine pressor response, defined as an increase in systolic blood pressure of 30 mm Hg or more. This is especially dangerous if youre taking Monoamine oxidase inhibitors.
Foods high in Tyramine can include:
- Aged Cheeses
- Sourdough bread
Foods To Eat To Lower High Blood Pressure
Now that weve seen a list of foods that raise blood pressure, its time to look at foods that lower blood pressure. The DASH diet is a good model to use when looking for blood pressurefriendly eating options. While you take steps to minimize the presence of the above foods in your diet, try to increase or emphasize the following:
- Whole grains such as brown rice or whole wheat pasta
- Carrots, broccoli, sweet potatoes , green leafy vegetables, and tomatoes
- Apples, pears, peaches, mangoes, and bananas
- Lean poultry or fish
- Skim milk and low-fat cheeses or yogurt and
- Almonds, kidney beans, or lentils .
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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.
Severe Hypotension Linked To Shock
Shock is an extreme form of hypotension in which blood pressure drops to dangerously low levels. It is a medical emergency, and someone with symptoms of shock needs immediate medical attention. Shock can result from bleeding, major burns, or excessive loss of bodily fluids.
The reason why someone has blood pressure will determine which foods or drinks may be beneficial to consume. A person should speak to their doctor to check.
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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 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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Foods And Drinks Containing Caffeine
Foods and beverages containing caffeine may cause a rise in blood pressure. However, studies into the effects of caffeine on blood pressure are inconclusive. suggests that coffee temporarily raises blood pressure only in people who do not drink it regularly.
Other foods and drinks that contain caffeine include chocolate, tea, cocoa, and some sodas and energy drinks.
Comparison Of Sodium In Foods
Meats, poultry, fish, and shellfish
Food: Milligrams sodium
Fresh meat, 3 oz. cooked: Less than 90 mg
Shellfish, 3 oz: 100 to 325 mg
Tuna, canned, 3 oz: 300 mg
Lean ham, 3 oz.: 1,025 mg
Dairy products
*Whole milk, 1 cup: 120 mg
Skim or 1% milk, 1 cup: 125 mg
*Buttermilk , 1 cup: 260 mg
*Swiss cheese, 1 oz: 75 mg
*Cheddar cheese, 1 oz : 175 mg
Low-fat cheese, 1 oz.: 150 mg
*Cottage cheese , 1/2 cup: 455 mg
Vegetables
Food: Milligrams sodium
Fresh or frozen vegetables, and no-salt-added canned , 1/2 cup: Less than 70 mg
Vegetables canned or frozen , 1/2 cup: 55-470 mg
Tomato juice, canned, 3/4 cup: 660 mg
Breads, cereals, rice and pasta
Food: Milligrams sodium
Bread, 1 slice: 110-175 mg
English muffin : 130 mg
Ready-to-eat, shredded wheat, 3/4 cup: Less than 5 mg
Cooked cereal , 1/2 cup: Less than 5 mg
Instant cooked cereal, 1 packet: 180 mg
Canned soups, 1 cup: 600-1,300 mg
Convenience foods
Food: Milligrams sodium
Canned and frozen main dishes, 8 oz: 500-1,570 mg
*These can also be high in saturated fat, unless low-fat or reduced fat options are purchased.
*High in saturated fat.
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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.
Worst Foods For High Blood Pressure
If you suffer from high blood pressure, know youâre not alone. According to the American Heart Association, nearly half of American adults actually have high blood pressure but donât know it, as most of the time, there arenât many obvious symptoms. If you do have high blood pressure and itâs left untreated, your circulatory system can be severely damaged and it can lead to other serious issues such as heart attack and stroke.
There are things you can do to help control your blood pressure, and that starts with the foods youâre eating. Your best bet? To avoid the worst foods that make your blood pressure worse. So we went ahead and rounded up a list of the 13 worst foods for high blood pressure so you can eliminate these culprits from your diet once and for all. Instead, stock up on the healthy foods that help lower your blood pressure! And while youâre working toward making healthier life changes, check out What Happens to Your Body When You Drink a Smoothie Every Day.
There is tons of evidence out there that high sodium intake is associated with a higher risk of developing high blood pressure. Potato chips are the ultimate salty snack, and if you find yourself eating potato chips regularly, youâre going to end up setting yourself up for disaster. One study found a connection between eating potato chips and an increase in heart disease.
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Keep Yourself At A Healthy Weight
Having overweight or obesity increases your risk for high blood pressure. To determine whether your weight is in a healthy range, doctors often calculate your body mass index . If you know your weight and height, you can calculate your BMI at CDCs Assessing Your Weight website. Doctors sometimes also use waist and hip measurements to assess body fat.
Talk with your health care team about ways to reach a healthy weight, including choosing healthy foods and getting regular physical activity.
How To Lower High
While we canât control our genetics, we can increase our exercise and change up our diets to support a healthy heart. Aim for a brisk walk, or any other form of cardio exercise, for at least 30 minutes most days of the week to help improve your heart health and lower your blood pressure.
Nutrition-wise, lowering your sodium intake, namely by reducing processed foods like frozen dinners and fast foods, can help lower blood pressure. Plus, increasing intake of foods rich in potassium, like most fruits and vegetables, salmon, beans and dairy, can also help lower your blood pressure.
If youâre overweight, losing weight can positively improve blood pressure, so we set this plan at 1,500 calories, which is a level where most people will lose weight. We also included modifications for 1,200 or 2,000 calories a day, depending on your needs.
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Foods High In Vitamin B12 And Folate
According to the , a deficiency in vitamin B12 and folate can cause anemia, leading to low blood pressure. A doctor can test a persons blood to see whether they are deficient in these essential nutrients.
Vitamin B12 foods
Good dietary sources of vitamin B12 include meat, eggs, fish, and dairy products, such as milk and cheese. People can also select foods fortified with vitamin B12, such as breakfast cereals and plant-based milks.
Folate foods
People can get folate by eating leafy green vegetables, broccoli, legumes, eggs, beets, citrus fruits, nuts, seeds, wheat germ, and liver.
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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Foods To Combat Hypotension
There are certain dietary measures that can help relieve hypotension. We can divide them into groups according to the benefits they bring us in order to raise blood pressure:
- Foods rich in vitamin B12
- Iron-rich foods
- Salty foods
- Foods that regulate blood pressure
Here are some foods that have these properties, so you can easily guide you when choosing food to help you control your blood pressure.
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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How Can I Prevent High Blood Pressure
You can help prevent high blood pressure by having a healthy lifestyle. This means
If you already have high blood pressure, it is important to prevent it from getting worse or causing complications. You should get regular medical care and follow your prescribed treatment plan. Your plan will include healthy lifestyle habit recommendations and possibly medicines.
NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Diabetes Signs And Symptoms Of Type 2 Diabetes Prevention
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Tips For Reducing Sodium
The most common sources of salt in the American diet are table salt, canned and frozen/prepared foods, and condiments. The easiest ways to lower your sodium intake are not adding salt from the salt shaker, rinsing canned vegetables with water through a strainer, and asking for food to be prepared with little or no salt when dining out.
Low Blood Pressure And Pregnancy
A drop in blood pressure is common during the first 24 weeks of pregnancy. The circulatory system starts to expand, and hormonal changes cause your blood vessels to dilate.
If you experience low blood pressure symptoms, let your OB-GYN know. You may need to pay more attention to your hydration during this time.
Pregnancy-related low blood pressure usually goes away later on in the pregnancy or shortly after delivery.
Its important to have your blood pressure checked and monitored during pregnancy to eliminate any underlying causes for it, such as anemia or an ectopic pregnancy.
Talk to your healthcare provider about your overall activity level and dietary habits to determine what changes, if any, you should make.
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Increase Activity And Exercise More
A meta-analysis of 65 studies suggests that aerobic and resistance exercise can significantly lower blood pressure, especially for men .
In a 2013 study, sedentary older adults who participated in aerobic exercise training lowered their blood pressure by an average of 3.9 percent systolic and 4.5 percent diastolic . These results are as good as some blood pressure medications.
As you regularly increase your heart and breathing rates, over time your heart gets stronger and pumps with less effort. This puts less pressure on your arteries and lowers your blood pressure.
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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