People who have lower blood pressures have a lower risk of stroke, kidney disease, and heart disease.
Athletes, people who exercise regularly, people who maintain ideal body weight, and nonsmokers tend to have lower blood pressures. Low blood pressure is desirable as long as it is not low enough to cause symptoms and damage to the organs in the body.
What are low blood pressure signs and symptoms?
When blood pressure is not sufficient to deliver enough blood to the organs of the body, the organs do not work properly and can be temporarily or permanently damaged. For example, if insufficient blood flows to the brain, brain cells do not receive enough oxygen and nutrients, and a person can feel lightheaded, dizzy, or even faint.
Going from a sitting or lying position to a standing position often brings out symptoms of low blood pressure. This occurs because standing causes blood to "settle" in the veins of the lower body, and this can lower the blood pressure. If the blood pressure is already low, standing can make the low pressure worse, to the point of causing symptoms.
The development of lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting upon standing caused by low blood pressure is called orthostatic hypotension. Normal individuals are able to compensate rapidly for the low pressure created by standing with the responses discussed previously and do not develop orthostatic hypotension.
When there is insufficient blood pressure to deliver blood to the coronary arteries (the arteries that supply blood to the heart's muscle), a person may develop chest pain (a symptom of angina) or even a heart attack.
When insufficient blood is delivered to the kidneys, the kidneys fail to eliminate wastes from the body, for example, urea (BUN) and creatinine, and increases in their levels in the blood occur.
Shock is a life-threatening condition where persistently low blood pressure causes organs such as kidney(s), liver, heart, lung(s), and brain to fail rapidly.
What are the causes of low blood pressure?
Conditions that reduce the volume of blood, reduce cardiac output (the amount of blood pumped by the heart), and medications are frequent reasons for low blood pressure.
*Dehydration is common among patients with prolonged nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or excessive exercise which shunts blood away from the organs to the muscles. Large amounts of water are lost when vomiting and with diarrhea, especially if the person does not drink adequate amounts of fluid to replace the depleted water.
Other causes of dehydration include exercise, sweating, fever, and heat exhaustion, or heat stroke. Individuals with mild dehydration may experience only thirst and dry mouth. Moderate to severe dehydration may cause orthostatic hypotension (manifested by lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting upon standing). Prolonged and severe dehydration can lead to shock, kidney failure, confusion, acidosis (too much acid in the blood), coma, and even death.
*Moderate or severe bleeding can quickly deplete an individual's body of blood, leading to low blood pressure or orthostatic hypotension. Bleeding can result from trauma, surgical complications, or from gastrointestinal abnormalities such as ulcers, tumors, or diverticulosis. Occasionally, the bleeding may be so severe and rapid (for example, bleeding from a ruptured aortic aneurysm) that it causes shock and death rapidly.
*Severe inflammation of organs inside the body such as acute pancreatitis can cause low blood pressure. In acute pancreatitis, fluid leaves the blood vessels to enter the inflamed tissues around the pancreas as well as the abdominal cavity, concentrating blood and reducing its volume.
Low blood pressure, also known as hypotension, is a condition in which a person’s blood pressure becomes so low that it causes symptoms like dizziness, fainting, fatigue, nausea, difficulty breathing, blurred vision, palpitations, and cold, clammy skin.
People with an ideal weight and who are physically fit and active generally have a blood pressure reading lower than what is considered normal at 120/80 mm Hg. Yet, this is not unhealthy, especially when the symptoms are not experienced.
However, when readings consistently remain around 90/60 mm Hg or lower, it is considered hypotension. Besides, when the blood pressure is extremely low, it may cause inadequate flow of blood to organs such as the brain, kidneys, and heart.
The condition can be caused by issues like dehydration, prolonged bed rest, nutritional deficiencies, a decrease in blood volume, heart problems, pregnancy, endocrine disorders, and neurological conditions.
Certain medications such as alpha blockers, beta blockers, diuretics, antidepressants, and others can also lead to low blood pressure.
When dealing with low blood pressure, it is usually suggested to increase your salt and fluid intake. Before increasing your salt consumption, do check with your doctor. Also, cut down on alcoholic beverages and high-carbohydrate foods such as bread, rice, pasta, and potatoes.
The proper treatment for this condition depends on the exact cause, but you can try some simple home remedies to alleviate symptoms.
Here are the top 10 home remedies for low blood pressure.
1. Salt Water
Salt water helps treat low blood pressure because the sodium in salt increases blood pressure. Do not overdo this remedy though, as excess salt can prove to be unhealthy. Simply mix one-half teaspoon of salt in a glass of water and drink it. You can also drink sports beverages.
2. Coffee
Having a cup of strong coffee, hot chocolate, cola, or any caffeinated beverage can also temporarily increase your blood pressure. If you frequently suffer from low blood pressure, drink a cup of coffee in the morning or have it along with meals, especially when dealing with orthostatic hypotension. But, do not make it a habit because the long-term effects of caffeine are not clear.
3. Raisins
Raisins are a traditional Ayurvedic remedy that is considered excellent for treating hypotension naturally.
Soak 30 to 40 raisins in a cup of water overnight.
Eat them in the morning, one at a time, on an empty stomach. You can also drink the water in which the raisins were soaked.
Follow this remedy for a few weeks or even a month.
You can take about four to five almonds, 10 to 15 black currants, and 15 to 20 peanuts along with a glass of milk.
4. Holy Basil
Holy basil is beneficial for low blood pressure because it is rich in vitamin C, magnesium, potassium, and pantothenic acid. Furthermore, it helps balance the mind and reduces stress.
Extract the juice of 10 to 15 basil leaves.
Add one teaspoon of honey to it.
Drink this juice daily on an empty stomach.
You can also chew four to five basil leaves daily in the morning.
5. Licorice Root
Licorice root is another popular home remedy for normalizing low blood pressure caused by low levels of cortisol. It blocks the enzyme that breaks down cortisol and supports healthy adrenalin function. It is also effective in curing chronic fatigue syndrome.
You can prepare licorice tea by steeping one teaspoon of this herb (dried or powdered) in a cup of boiling water for about five minutes. You can take it daily for a few days.
Alternatively, you can take about 400-500 mg of licorice root capsules for a few days.
6. Beetroot Juice
Raw beetroot juice is helpful in dealing with high as well as low blood pressure. For hypotension, drink a cup of beetroot juice twice daily for about one week. Other natural fruit juices are also considered helpful in this regard.
7. Almonds and Milk
This is another traditional home remedy for low blood pressure.
Soak five to six almonds in water overnight.
In the morning, peel off the skin and grind the almonds into a smooth paste.
Finally, boil the paste in a cup of milk. Drink a cup of this every morning.
8. Rosemary
Rosemary is believed to be useful in normalizing low blood pressure because it stimulates the central nervous system and improves circulation. Take up to 10 ml of rosemary tincture per day. Having freshly prepared infusion with this herb or adding it to your foods is also useful. Furthermore, you can simply add three to four drops of rosemary essential oil in your diffuser for aromatherapy benefits.
9. Carrot Juice
Starting your day with fresh carrot juice mixed with a little honey is an easy way to treat low blood pressure.
Take a glass of carrot juice.
Mix two tablespoons of honey in it.
Drink it twice daily (on an empty stomach in the morning and in the evening).
10. Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is highly effective in treating high blood pressure, but it can also be used for low blood pressure, especially when it is caused by dehydration. In such cases, you can drink some lemon juice mixed with a little salt and sugar. It helps energize your body by stimulating the liver function and aiding in digestion. A glass of sugarcane juice mixed with a teaspoon of lemon juice and salt is also useful.
Along with these home remedies, get regular, mild exercise to promote blood flow. Avoid vigorous exercise and heavy lifting, though. Also, consult your doctor to check if any of your prescription medications are causing the problem.
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