The human body has blood vessels made up of capillaries, veins, and arteries. The blood is drawn into the arteries by the heart and then carried throughout the body. Blood pressure is the force of blood that exerts against the walls of arteries. The condition in which your blood pressure declines notably when you change your posture is called orthostatic hypotension.
For instance, when a person stands up quickly after lying down or sitting, gravity pulls the blood into the legs. Your body then works to thrust the blood to the brain to supply oxygen. If your body fails to do this, blood pressure lowers leading to blurry vision, dizziness, or fainting.
Can Orthostatic Hypotension Go Away On Its Own?
If you ever experience an event of dizziness due to orthostatic hypotension, it will probably last only for a couple of seconds. In most of the cases, the cardiovascular system regulates, the symptoms fade, and there is adequate blood flow to your brain. If you are encountering orthostatic hypotension symptoms, just sit or lie on your back. You will instantly feel comforted as there is lesser gravity intervention.
Although this condition is rarely harmful, seek professional help if you experience it multiple times in a row. Untreated hypotension can result in major cardiovascular diseases in the future.(1)
What Are The Natural Remedies For Orthostatic Hypotension?
Any treatment for orthostatic hypotension restores normal blood pressure. And here are some lifestyle changes and natural remedies to treat this condition:
Increase Salt In Your Diet: Consult your doctor and see if you can have some extra salt in your diet for a brief period. Don’t increase the portion yourself. Too much salt can be risky for your blood pressure and can increase it beyond a healthy level.
Eat Small Portions: Eating large meals may sometimes make you feel exhausted. This happens because your blood pressure fluctuates. If you feel your pressure dropping after you eat your meal, it might be because of the dip in your pressure. Eat smaller, low-carb meals to avoid low blood pressure.
Vitamin Supplements: Vitamin B12 deficiency and anemia affect blood flow and can aggravate the symptoms of orthostatic hypotension. Get yourself tested and seek expert help. If you’re deficient, vitamin and iron tablets can be effective.
Drink Abundant Fluids: Keeping yourself hydrated inhibits any signs of orthostatic hypotension. Drink plenty of water and juices, especially when you have to do any activity standing for a longer duration.
No Alcohol: Drinking alcohol, even a little bit, is absolutely a NO. Alcohol can worsen this condition and hence must be avoided completely.
Exercising: Regular exercise helps in mitigating the symptoms of this condition. Do more strengthening and cardiovascular exercises. However, avoid working out in hot/humid weather. Flex and stretch your calf muscles before you sit up. If you notice any symptoms, march in place, squat, rise on your tiptoes or squeeze your buttock, thigh and abdominal muscles.
Do Not Bend The Waist: If you drop something, don’t bend to pick it up. Squat with your knees for getting it.
Wear high-Waist Compression Stockings: Such stockings help in increasing the blood flow and lessen the signs of orthostatic hypotension. You can wear them during the day when you are at work but take them off when you go to bed.
Get Up Slowly: Don’t get up from your bed immediately after you open your eyes. Sit on the edge of your bed for a couple of minutes and then move slowly. This would reduce lightheadedness and dizziness. If you sleep on the floor, sit up and get up slowly to your side.
Move Your Legs While Standing: If symptoms of this condition strikes, cross your thighs in a scissor manner and squeeze. You can also put one of the feet on a bench and lean as far as possible. This will encourage blood flow from legs to your heart.(1)
Also Read:
