The Diet To Follow For Low Blood Pressure

Low blood pressure can be the result of a myriad of causes, whether it is simply dehydration or something more serious like surgery. To treat hypotension or low blood pressure, it is important to know what causes it. While normal blood pressure reading is 120/80, a number outside this range may also be healthy because it depends on your age, medical history, and overall health condition. Usually, when the reading is below 90/60 mm Hg, it is considered as low blood pressure.

What Causes Low Blood Pressure?

Low blood pressure may be caused by several factors:

➢    Pregnancy, when pressure falls as the circulatory system starts to grow rapidly 
➢    Heart conditions may trigger low BP and low heart-rate
➢    Thyroid conditions like parathyroid diseases
➢    Low blood sugar, diabetes, etc can also cause low blood pressure
➢    Severe allergic reaction
➢    Severe infections or septicemia
➢    Blood loss because of internal bleeding or injuries
➢    Overall nutritional deficiency
➢    Anemia
➢    Sudden change in body positions
➢    Endocrine disorders
➢    Disorders of the nervous system
➢    Heart attack and heart diseases
➢    Vigorous exercises
➢    Medications
➢    Stress and anxiety

Can Low Blood Pressure Be Managed With Diet?

Low BP without substantial symptoms or with mild symptoms may not warrant treatment. When you, however, do exhibit symptoms, it is best to determine the underlying cause first before you treat the condition. So, if low BP is because of some medicine, you will need to discontinue that medicine or lower the dosage to treat the condition. When the exact cause is not known, you should seek to increase the blood pressure in order to alleviate the symptoms. Low BP treatment is possible when you follow a proper healthy diet.

Dietary Tips For Controlling Low BP:

➢    To avoid low BP and elevate pressure, you should avoid eating large meal portions and excess alcohol. You must not stand up or start working out right after eating.
➢    You need to consume more fluids since dehydration will cause the blood volume to come down and this makes the blood pressure levels fall. So, you must drink lots of water and stay hydrated particularly when you exercise.
➢    Vitamin B12 is needed to prevent anemia which triggers low BP. So, you must include fortified breakfast cereals, eggs, and beef in the diet.
➢    Foods that have high folate content like dark, green leafy vegetables, garbanzo beans, asparagus, liver, poultry, etc can be good for managing low BP.
➢    Salty foods will raise your blood pressure levels; so, you may try to include canned soups, olives, smoked fish, and cottage cheese in your diet.
➢    Caffeinated tea and coffee will elevate your blood pressure temporarily as it stimulates the cardiovascular system, boosting the heart rate.
➢    Licorice tea lessens the impact of aldosterone hormone that regulates salt effects on your body. This tea helps to raise blood pressure.
➢    Just like adding some foods to your daily meals can help you control low BP, there are some healthy eating habits that can prove beneficial. For instance, you should make it a point to avoid large meals. It is best to stick to frequent and small meals. When you consume too much, the pressure may fall as the body works more to digest the foods.
➢    It is recommended that you stay away from processed carbs and high-carb foods. Since these are quickly digested, they can cause the blood pressure level to fall.
➢    If the doctor advises you to consume more salt in the diet, but you are not fond of salty foods, you can consider adding dry-soup mix to salad dressings and dips, and natural soy sauce for cooking.

Lifestyle Changes For Controlling Low BP:

Besides dietary changes, there are some lifestyle changes that can help you manage low blood pressure conditions better.

➢    It is best not to work out a lot in extreme heat, or during the summers.
➢    Frequent changes in postures or body positions may cause pressure to fall. You must change your body position slowly.
➢    It is advisable to refrain from spending too much time in hot tubs or saunas.
➢    Prolonged body rest is best avoided when you have low BP.
➢    Wearing compression stockings can ensure that blood moves all through the body smoothly.

Eating some specific types of foods will keep your blood pressure levels optimal, but, at the same time, you must not do away with healthy foods in the process. So, when you have decided to manage your BP levels through diet, it is advisable to consult a doctor and find out first what is the right BP level for you.

This is a guest blog entry.