Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesTreatmentComplicationsDiagnosisWhen to See a Healthcare ProviderFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Treatment
Complications
Diagnosis
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Frequently Asked Questions
Your blood pressure is typically lower after eating because the body sends blood to the gastrointestinal system to help with digestion, causing blood pressure to lower temporarily in the rest of the body.
This article discusses symptoms, potential causes, diagnosis, and treatment of high blood pressure after eating.
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High blood pressure(hypertension) occurs when the force of blood that flows through the arteries is higher than it should be. Anything over 130/80 mm HG (millimeters of mercury) is considered high blood pressure.
Symptoms of High Blood Pressure After Eating
In most cases, high blood pressure does not have anysymptoms.Despite popular belief, high blood pressure does not cause headaches or nosebleeds unless blood pressure is so high that it is a medical emergency.
20 Types of Foods That Lower Blood Pressure
Causes of High Blood Pressure After Eating
Certain foods and drinks can cause blood pressure to rise after consuming them. They include:
Smokingalso causes an immediate rise in blood pressure.If you have a cigarette after meals, the increase in blood pressure could be from smoking rather than eating.
What Are the Best Foods for High Blood Pressure?
It’s important not to smoke or consume alcohol or caffeine 30 minutes before having your blood pressure taken since tobacco, alcohol, and caffeine can raise blood pressure.
How to Treat High Blood Pressure After Eating
If your blood pressure is high after eating, you should limit foods or drinks known to raise blood pressure. Limitingsodiumintake if you already have high blood pressure or prehypertension (elevated blood pressure that isn’t yet high enough to be hypertension) is important, as too much sodium can further increase blood pressure.
It’s recommended that adults consume less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day.If you have hypertension, healthcare providers recommend an even lower sodium intake, somewhere around 1,500 milligrams per day. Most people’s sodium intake comes from processed foods and food from restaurants.
Foods that are typically high in sodium include:
If your blood pressure continues to be high after eating despite eliminating foods and drinks that typically raise blood pressure, you should contact a healthcare provider.
To reduce sodium in your diet, avoid using table salt, read nutrition labels, and look for foods with labels containing words such as “sodium free,” “low sodium,” and “unsalted.”
Complications of High Blood Pressure After Eating
If high blood pressure is left uncontrolled, it can lead to complications, including:
Tests to Diagnose the Cause of High Blood Pressure After Eating
Your healthcare provider can discuss ways to manage your blood pressure, including lifestyle changes, keeping a healthy weight, and, in some cases,medications.
It is important that you do not attempt to diagnose yourself with high blood pressure.Contact a healthcare provider if:
If your blood pressure is 180/120 mm Hg or higher and you have any of the following symptoms, call 911, as these are signs of ahypertensive crisis:
Call 911 or your healthcare provider immediately if you arepregnantand have a systolic (upper number) blood pressure reading of 160 mm Hg or higher or a diastolic (lower number) reading of 110 mm Hg or higher. This could be a sign ofpreeclampsia.
Summary
If you have high blood pressure after eating, it’s important to evaluate whether your diet consists of foods or drinks that cause blood pressure to go up after consuming them. Try eliminating or cutting back on these foods and beverages to see if your blood pressure improves. Contact your healthcare provider if your blood pressure continues to be high despite making these changes.
Foods withhigh sodium levelsorbeverages with alcoholorcaffeinecan all raise blood pressure after consuming them.
If you have triedeliminating foodsand drinks that raise blood pressure after consuming them and still have high blood pressure after eating, you should consult a healthcare provider.
13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.The International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards.What to know about elevated blood pressure after eating.American Heart Association.The facts about high blood pressure.American Heart Association.Why high blood pressure is a “silent killer”.American Heart Association.What are the symptoms of high blood pressure?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.High blood pressure symptoms and causes.American Heart Association.Heart-healthy version of chinese food may lower blood pressure.Northside Hospital Heart Institute Cardiovascular Group.Factors that can exaggerate blood pressure readings.Johns Hopkins Medicine.High blood pressure; Prevention, treatment and research.Harnack LJ, Cogswell ME, Shikany JM, et al.Sources of sodium in us adults from 3 geographic regions.Circulation. 2017;135(19):1775-1783. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.116.024446Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.The facts on sodium and high blood pressure.American Heart Association.Health threats from high blood pressure.American Heart Association.Hypertensive crisis: When you should call 911 for high blood pressure.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Preeclampsia and high blood pressure during pregnancy.
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.The International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards.What to know about elevated blood pressure after eating.American Heart Association.The facts about high blood pressure.American Heart Association.Why high blood pressure is a “silent killer”.American Heart Association.What are the symptoms of high blood pressure?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.High blood pressure symptoms and causes.American Heart Association.Heart-healthy version of chinese food may lower blood pressure.Northside Hospital Heart Institute Cardiovascular Group.Factors that can exaggerate blood pressure readings.Johns Hopkins Medicine.High blood pressure; Prevention, treatment and research.Harnack LJ, Cogswell ME, Shikany JM, et al.Sources of sodium in us adults from 3 geographic regions.Circulation. 2017;135(19):1775-1783. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.116.024446Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.The facts on sodium and high blood pressure.American Heart Association.Health threats from high blood pressure.American Heart Association.Hypertensive crisis: When you should call 911 for high blood pressure.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Preeclampsia and high blood pressure during pregnancy.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
The International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards.What to know about elevated blood pressure after eating.American Heart Association.The facts about high blood pressure.American Heart Association.Why high blood pressure is a “silent killer”.American Heart Association.What are the symptoms of high blood pressure?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.High blood pressure symptoms and causes.American Heart Association.Heart-healthy version of chinese food may lower blood pressure.Northside Hospital Heart Institute Cardiovascular Group.Factors that can exaggerate blood pressure readings.Johns Hopkins Medicine.High blood pressure; Prevention, treatment and research.Harnack LJ, Cogswell ME, Shikany JM, et al.Sources of sodium in us adults from 3 geographic regions.Circulation. 2017;135(19):1775-1783. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.116.024446Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.The facts on sodium and high blood pressure.American Heart Association.Health threats from high blood pressure.American Heart Association.Hypertensive crisis: When you should call 911 for high blood pressure.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Preeclampsia and high blood pressure during pregnancy.
The International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards.What to know about elevated blood pressure after eating.
American Heart Association.The facts about high blood pressure.
American Heart Association.Why high blood pressure is a “silent killer”.
American Heart Association.What are the symptoms of high blood pressure?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.High blood pressure symptoms and causes.
American Heart Association.Heart-healthy version of chinese food may lower blood pressure.
Northside Hospital Heart Institute Cardiovascular Group.Factors that can exaggerate blood pressure readings.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.High blood pressure; Prevention, treatment and research.
Harnack LJ, Cogswell ME, Shikany JM, et al.Sources of sodium in us adults from 3 geographic regions.Circulation. 2017;135(19):1775-1783. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.116.024446
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.The facts on sodium and high blood pressure.
American Heart Association.Health threats from high blood pressure.
American Heart Association.Hypertensive crisis: When you should call 911 for high blood pressure.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Preeclampsia and high blood pressure during pregnancy.
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