What is low blood pressure?
Low blood pressure is also called hypotension. A normal blood pressure reading is typically between 90/60 and 120/80 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg).
A healthy blood pressure reading for your body is based on you’re:
- Medical history
- Age
- Overall condition
We may be diagnosed having low blood pressure if our reading is under 90/60 mm Hg and we have other symptoms, including:
- Blurry Vision
- Confusion or trouble concentrating
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Light-headedness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Weakness
What to eat
Eating certain types of food can help raise our blood pressure.
- More fluids. Dehydration decreases blood volume, causing blood pressure to drop. Staying hydrated is especially important when exercising. Drink more water and limit alcohol.
- Food’s high in vitamin B-12. Too little vitamin B-12 can lead to a certain type of anemia, which can cause low blood pressure and fatigue. Food’s high in B-12 include eggs, fortified cereals, and animal meats.
- Food’s high in folate. Too little folate can also contribute to anemia. Examples of folate-rich foods include asparagus, beans, lentils, citrus fruits, leafy greens, eggs, and liver.
- Salt. Salty foods can increase blood pressure. Try eating salted nuts, smoked fish, cottage cheese, pickled items, and olives.
- Caffeine. Coffee and caffeinated tea may temporarily spike blood pressure by stimulating the cardiovascular system and boosting your heart rate.
- Eat small meals more frequently. Large meals may cause more dramatic drops in blood pressure, as your body works harder to digest larger meals.
Salt
Salt, or sodium chloride, affects hormones that control the body’s water balance. High salt intake can increase blood pressure.
People who have low blood pressure may benefit from increasing their salt intake.
Ways to do this include:
- Adding a pinch of salt to a glass of water
- Seasoning food with salt
- Eating salty foods, such as olives or anchovies
- Choosing salted nuts as a snack
Foods to avoid
People should eat a healthful diet, and there are no particular foods to avoid. However, someone with low blood pressure should not choose low salt options.
Other remedies
- If someone has postprandial hypotension, they can try eating smaller, more frequent meals. They may be able to digest smaller meals more efficiently, which may help their blood pressure.
- People who have postural hypotension should stand up from a sitting or lying position slowly to avoid fainting and dizziness. They may also wish to hold onto something steady as they do so.
- Someone who is not drinking enough fluids may be able to raise their blood pressure by maintaining hydration.
If an individual has concerns about low blood pressure symptoms, they should discuss this with medical experts.
