*TREATMENT OF LOW BLOOD PRESSURE*
Low blood pressure without symptoms or with only mild symptoms rarely requires treatment.
If low blood pressure causes symptoms, the treatment depends on the cause. For instance, if medicine causes low blood pressure, your healthcare professional may recommend changing or stopping the medicine. Or the dose of medicine might be lowered. Don't change or stop taking your medicine without first talking to your healthcare professional.
If the cause of low blood pressure isn't clear or if no treatment exists, the goal is to raise blood pressure and relieve symptoms. Depending on your age, health and the type of low blood pressure you have, there are various ways to do this:
*• USE MORE SALT.* Experts usually recommend limiting table salt and foods high in sodium. That's because salt and sodium can raise blood pressure, sometimes by a lot. For people with low blood pressure, though, that can be a good thing. But too much salt or sodium can lead to heart failure, especially in older adults. So, it's important to check with a healthcare professional before eating more salt or high-sodium foods.
*• DRINK MORE WATER.* Fluids increase blood volume and help prevent dehydration, both of which are important in treating hypotension.
*• WEAR COMPRESSION STOCKINGS.* Also called support stockings, these elastic stockings are often used to relieve the pain and swelling of varicose veins. They improve blood flow from the legs to the heart. Some people have an easier time using compression belts around the stomach area than they do using compression stockings. The compression belts are called abdominal binders.
*• MEDICINES.* Various medicines can treat low blood pressure that occurs when standing up, also called orthostatic hypotension. For example, the drug fludrocortisone boosts blood volume. It's often used to treat orthostatic hypotension.
If you have long-term orthostatic hypotension, midodrine (Orvaten) may be prescribed to raise standing blood pressure levels. This medicine lessens the ability of the blood vessels to expand, which raises blood pressure.
*LIFESTYLE AND HOME REMEDIES FOR LOW BLOOD PRESSURE.*
Depending on the reason for low blood pressure, the following lifestyle and home remedies might help ease or prevent symptoms:
*• DRINK MORE WATER, LESS ALCOHOL* . Alcohol is dehydrating and can lower blood pressure, even in moderation. Water boosts the amount of blood in the body and prevents dehydration.
*• PAY ATTENTION TO BODY POSITIONS.* Gently move from lying flat or squatting to a standing position. Don't sit with legs crossed.
If symptoms of low blood pressure begin while standing, cross the thighs like a pair of scissors and squeeze. Or put one foot on a ledge or chair and lean as far forward as you can. These moves encourage blood flow from the legs to the heart.
*• EAT SMALL, LOW-CARB MEALS.* To help prevent blood pressure from dropping sharply after meals, eat small meals several times a day. Limit high-carbohydrate foods such as potatoes, rice, pasta and bread.
A healthcare professional also might recommend drinking one or two strong cups of caffeinated coffee or tea with breakfast. Caffeine can cause dehydration, though, so be sure to drink plenty of water and other fluids without caffeine.
*• EXERCISE REGULARLY.* As a general goal, work up to at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise a week. For example, you could aim to get about 30 minutes of activity most days. Also, aim to do strength-training exercises at least twice a week. But try not to exercise in hot, humid conditions.
*TREATMENT OF LOW BLOOD PRESSURE*
Low blood pressure without symptoms or with only mild symptoms rarely requires treatment.
If low blood pressure causes symptoms, the treatment depends on the cause. For instance, if medicine causes low blood pressure, your healthcare professional may recommend changing or stopping the medicine. Or the dose of medicine might be lowered. Don't change or stop taking your medicine without first talking to your healthcare professional.
If the cause of low blood pressure isn't clear or if no treatment exists, the goal is to raise blood pressure and relieve symptoms. Depending on your age, health and the type of low blood pressure you have, there are various ways to do this:
*• USE MORE SALT.* Experts usually recommend limiting table salt and foods high in sodium. That's because salt and sodium can raise blood pressure, sometimes by a lot. For people with low blood pressure, though, that can be a good thing. But too much salt or sodium can lead to heart failure, especially in older adults. So, it's important to check with a healthcare professional before eating more salt or high-sodium foods.
*• DRINK MORE WATER.* Fluids increase blood volume and help prevent dehydration, both of which are important in treating hypotension.
*• WEAR COMPRESSION STOCKINGS.* Also called support stockings, these elastic stockings are often used to relieve the pain and swelling of varicose veins. They improve blood flow from the legs to the heart. Some people have an easier time using compression belts around the stomach area than they do using compression stockings. The compression belts are called abdominal binders.
*• MEDICINES.* Various medicines can treat low blood pressure that occurs when standing up, also called orthostatic hypotension. For example, the drug fludrocortisone boosts blood volume. It's often used to treat orthostatic hypotension.
If you have long-term orthostatic hypotension, midodrine (Orvaten) may be prescribed to raise standing blood pressure levels. This medicine lessens the ability of the blood vessels to expand, which raises blood pressure.
*LIFESTYLE AND HOME REMEDIES FOR LOW BLOOD PRESSURE.*
Depending on the reason for low blood pressure, the following lifestyle and home remedies might help ease or prevent symptoms:
*• DRINK MORE WATER, LESS ALCOHOL* . Alcohol is dehydrating and can lower blood pressure, even in moderation. Water boosts the amount of blood in the body and prevents dehydration.
*• PAY ATTENTION TO BODY POSITIONS.* Gently move from lying flat or squatting to a standing position. Don't sit with legs crossed.
If symptoms of low blood pressure begin while standing, cross the thighs like a pair of scissors and squeeze. Or put one foot on a ledge or chair and lean as far forward as you can. These moves encourage blood flow from the legs to the heart.
*• EAT SMALL, LOW-CARB MEALS.* To help prevent blood pressure from dropping sharply after meals, eat small meals several times a day. Limit high-carbohydrate foods such as potatoes, rice, pasta and bread.
A healthcare professional also might recommend drinking one or two strong cups of caffeinated coffee or tea with breakfast. Caffeine can cause dehydration, though, so be sure to drink plenty of water and other fluids without caffeine.
*• EXERCISE REGULARLY.* As a general goal, work up to at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise a week. For example, you could aim to get about 30 minutes of activity most days. Also, aim to do strength-training exercises at least twice a week. But try not to exercise in hot, humid conditions.
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