What To Do When Your Blood Pressure Drops Too Low & How To Raise It?

Maintaining ideal blood pressure can be a difficult task for some. As very high as well as low blood pressure levels can be dangerous, it is necessary to maintain the normal range. So, while a healthy routine and medications are important for high blood pressure, it is also essential to know about the symptoms of very low blood pressure. Let us understand what to do when your blood pressure drops too low and how to raise it.

Falling down of blood pressure below the normal range is referred to as low blood pressure or hypotension. The normal blood pressure reading is 120/80mm Hg, and a person with low blood pressure shows a reading of 90/60mm Hg or low. Having a low blood pressure without any symptoms might not be much of a problem, but if the symptoms start showing up it means that the blood supply to the body is being affected. If this happens the doctor might diagnose the condition to get the cause.

It is important to know what to do if your blood pressure drops too low and how to raise it. But before that let us understand the causes of low blood pressure and understand why your blood pressure drops too low. Some of the conditions causing low blood pressure involve

• Anemia
• Dehydration caused by prolonged diarrhea or vomiting
• Moderate to extreme blood loss
• Inappropriate Diet
• An extreme allergic reaction
• Certain medications
• Pregnancy
• Severe infection
• Stress
• Thyroid problems
• Autonomic nervous system disorders
• Postural hypotension
• Heart disease

So, how do you feel when your blood pressure drops too low? The common symptoms of low blood pressure are,

• Fainting
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Lightheadedness

The symptoms vary according to the underlying cause,

• Chest pain or heart attack in a patient suffering from heart disease.
• Sitting and standing may lead to vertigo or dizziness in the patient with postural hypotension.
• Increase in urea and creatinine levels in the patient with kidney disease. This happens due to decreased blood supply to the kidney.
• Kidney failure, heart failure, lung failure, and brain failure.

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

Some of the healthy tips that can prevent or help you to raise your blood pressure include the following.

1. Fluid Intake. Increase the water intake, don’t wait for the time you feel thirsty. Avoid alcoholic beverage, as they often cause more dehydration. Tomato juices or sports drink might also help.
2. Salt Intake. Sodium, which is present in salt, is necessary to help maintain blood pressure and must be consumed as per the daily requirement. For those who are consistently having low blood pressure and not suffering from high blood pressure, increasing salt intake can help.
3. Get a Leg Up. While rising from the bed, make a little bit up and down leg movement to get the blood flowing. This prevents pooling of blood in one area, warms up the muscles to improve blood circulation. This prevents sudden dropping of blood pressure on raising up.
4. Leg and Lower Belly Support. Pooling of blood , which is a common cause of low blood pressure on standing from a lying down position can also be relieved by using stockings. Compression stockings which are thigh high or waist-high are best to squeeze the legs, and prove to be really helpful in maintaining blood pressure, particularly for people with postural hypotension.
5. Eat Small Frequent Meals. Blood pressure also drops on eating large and heavy meals. Eating small frequent meals throughout the day help in maintaining blood pressure. So, in to raise your blood pressure if it is too low, have often, but make sure it is healthy food.
6. Cross Legs While Sitting. Sitting cross legs can increase the blood pressure and this prove to be helpful with people suffering from hypotension. This is another good way to raise your blood pressure if it is too low.

Low blood pressure is considered a problem if the symptoms are present, otherwise, it is considered a sign of good health. Their knowledge of the symptoms is very necessary to avoid unnecessary health hassles. Now that you are aware of what to do when you blood pressure drops too low and how to raise it, you can act accordingly. Also, timely medical opinion and regular medical check-ups play an important role.

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