Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsIncreasing Low Blood PressureFoods That Increase ItWhat Is Considered Low?At-Home MonitoringFAQ
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Increasing Low Blood Pressure
Foods That Increase It
What Is Considered Low?
At-Home Monitoring
FAQ
For some people,low blood pressure(hypotension) is the norm. However, there are a few things that may help raise your blood pressure quickly.
A sudden drop in blood pressure can make you feellight-headed, dizzy, or faint. In some cases, it can signal a health problem or a medical emergency.If it’s a common occurrence, you may need to take steps to help prevent these episodes.
This article discusses how to increase blood pressure, when to see a healthcare provider, and when low blood pressure requires emergency care.
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12 Ways to Increase Blood Pressure
Low blood pressure doesn’t necessarily requiretreatment. However, there are some home remedies and lifestyle tweaks if your blood pressure is low.
Without Medication
Blood pressure that drops when you stand from a sitting or lying down position is calledpostural or orthostatic hypotension.
Strategies that can help immediately include:
Doing the following can help cut down on low blood pressure episodes:
With Medication
Most people won’t need medication to increase blood pressure. A few lifestyle adjustments and treating any underlying cause are usually sufficient.Some things a healthcare provider may do include:
Low blood pressure doesn’t always cause symptoms. But when blood pressure drops suddenly, it can be somewhat disturbing, leading to:Light-headedness, dizziness, faintingRapid, shallow breathingNausea, vomitingBlurry visionThirstWeakness, fatigue, lethargyTrouble concentratingIf you have symptoms of low blood pressure, slowly sit and put your head between your legs or lie down and elevate your feet above your heart level.Drink some coffee or water as soon as possible.
Low blood pressure doesn’t always cause symptoms. But when blood pressure drops suddenly, it can be somewhat disturbing, leading to:
If you have symptoms of low blood pressure, slowly sit and put your head between your legs or lie down and elevate your feet above your heart level.Drink some coffee or water as soon as possible.
What Foods Increase Blood Pressure?
Rapidly digestedcarbohydratescan lead to a fall in blood pressure. These include foods made with highly refined flour, such as white bread. Also, white rice, potatoes, and sugary drinks.Try to replace these with slowly digested foods that may help keep your blood pressure up after eating. These include:
Deficiencies in vitaminB12andfolatecan causeanemia, leading to low blood pressure.Dietary sources of vitamin B12 include:
Foods that contain folate include:
You can also try adding a little more salt to your diet.However, dietary salt can affect other health conditions, so you might want to check with your provider to ensure this is safe for you.
What Is a Dangerously Low Blood Pressure?
There’s no specific number at which daily blood pressure readings are too low.But unusually low blood pressure can prevent oxygen from getting to vital organs.
This can be due to serious problems such as blood loss or a heart condition. Low blood pressure can lead toshock, a life-threatening emergency.
Signs of ShockShock is always a medical emergency. Call 911 immediately if you have any of the following symptoms:Cold, sweaty skinRapid breathingWeak or rapid pulseSkin turning blueConfusionLoss ofconsciousness
Signs of Shock
Shock is always a medical emergency. Call 911 immediately if you have any of the following symptoms:Cold, sweaty skinRapid breathingWeak or rapid pulseSkin turning blueConfusionLoss ofconsciousness
Shock is always a medical emergency. Call 911 immediately if you have any of the following symptoms:
Monitoring Blood Pressure At Home
An automatic cuff-style bicepmonitoris recommended for at-home monitoring. Make sure it has been validated and is the correct cuff size. A few tips to keep in mind include:
One reading represents your blood pressure at that moment in time. Keep a record of your daily readings to have a better picture of your normal blood pressure. Let your provider know if you have multiple readings that are not within the normal range.
Understanding Blood Pressure ReadingsThe top (systolic) number measures how much pressure blood exerts against artery walls when the heart beats. The bottom (diastolic) number is how much pressure blood exerts against artery walls between beats.Blood pressureis considered low if it’s less than 90/60 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury).Ranges for adults are as follows:Normal: Less than 120 and less than 80Elevated: 120–129 and less than 80High, stage 1: 130–139 or 80–89High, stage 2: 140 or higher or 90 or higherHypertensive crisis: higher than 180 and/or higher than 120
Understanding Blood Pressure Readings
The top (systolic) number measures how much pressure blood exerts against artery walls when the heart beats. The bottom (diastolic) number is how much pressure blood exerts against artery walls between beats.Blood pressureis considered low if it’s less than 90/60 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury).Ranges for adults are as follows:Normal: Less than 120 and less than 80Elevated: 120–129 and less than 80High, stage 1: 130–139 or 80–89High, stage 2: 140 or higher or 90 or higherHypertensive crisis: higher than 180 and/or higher than 120
The top (systolic) number measures how much pressure blood exerts against artery walls when the heart beats. The bottom (diastolic) number is how much pressure blood exerts against artery walls between beats.Blood pressureis considered low if it’s less than 90/60 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury).
Ranges for adults are as follows:
Summary
A quick drop in blood pressure can cause light-headedness, dizziness, and fainting. You can do a few things to bring your blood pressure back up quickly. And you can take steps to help prevent symptoms.
Low blood pressure doesn’t always require medical treatment. However, you may need treatment for any underlying conditions contributing to low blood pressure. In some cases, low blood pressure indicates a serious and even life-threatening problem, such as heart disease or blood loss.
Frequently Asked QuestionsBlood pressure can drop for several reasons, such asdehydration,blood loss, medications, heart problems, and other health conditions.You can have a sudden drop in blood pressure just from standing up too quickly or eating a big meal.Learn MoreWhat a Sudden Drop in Blood Pressure MeansYes, low blood pressure can make you feel tired or fatigued.Fatigue can also be a symptom of many other conditions, such asanemia, so it’s worth getting it checked out.Learn MoreWhat Is Fatigue?Eat aheart-healthy dietand make sure you’re adequately hydrated every day. Consult your healthcare provider orcardiologist(heart specialist) if you’re concerned about consistently low diastolic blood pressure.Learn MoreSystolic vs. Diastolic Blood Pressure
Frequently Asked Questions
Blood pressure can drop for several reasons, such asdehydration,blood loss, medications, heart problems, and other health conditions.You can have a sudden drop in blood pressure just from standing up too quickly or eating a big meal.Learn MoreWhat a Sudden Drop in Blood Pressure Means
Blood pressure can drop for several reasons, such asdehydration,blood loss, medications, heart problems, and other health conditions.You can have a sudden drop in blood pressure just from standing up too quickly or eating a big meal.
Learn MoreWhat a Sudden Drop in Blood Pressure Means
Yes, low blood pressure can make you feel tired or fatigued.Fatigue can also be a symptom of many other conditions, such asanemia, so it’s worth getting it checked out.Learn MoreWhat Is Fatigue?
Yes, low blood pressure can make you feel tired or fatigued.Fatigue can also be a symptom of many other conditions, such asanemia, so it’s worth getting it checked out.
Learn MoreWhat Is Fatigue?
Eat aheart-healthy dietand make sure you’re adequately hydrated every day. Consult your healthcare provider orcardiologist(heart specialist) if you’re concerned about consistently low diastolic blood pressure.Learn MoreSystolic vs. Diastolic Blood Pressure
Eat aheart-healthy dietand make sure you’re adequately hydrated every day. Consult your healthcare provider orcardiologist(heart specialist) if you’re concerned about consistently low diastolic blood pressure.
Learn MoreSystolic vs. Diastolic Blood Pressure
16 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.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Low blood pressure.Lima de Castro FBA, Castro FG, da Cunha MR, et al.Acute Effects of Coffee Consumption on Blood Pressure and Endothelial Function in Individuals with Hypertension on Antihypertensive Drug Treatment: A Randomized Crossover Trial.High Blood Press Cardiovasc Prev. 2024;31(1):65-76. doi:10.1007/s40292-024-00622-8NYU Langone Health.Lifestyle changes for autonomic disorders.Harvard Health Publishing.Eating can cause low blood pressure.American Heart Association.Low blood pressure: When blood pressure is too low.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Postural hypotension: What it is & how to manage it.Physiopedia.Hypotension.Stop Fainting.com.Sleeping with head higher than feet.National Health Service U.K.Low blood pressure (hypotension).Penn Medicine.Low Blood Pressure.Saljoughian M.Hypotension: A clinical care review.US Pharm. 2014;39(2):2-4.National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin B12.National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Folate.Mount Sinai.Shock.American Heart Association.Monitoring your blood pressure at home.American Heart Association.Understanding blood pressure readings.
16 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.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Low blood pressure.Lima de Castro FBA, Castro FG, da Cunha MR, et al.Acute Effects of Coffee Consumption on Blood Pressure and Endothelial Function in Individuals with Hypertension on Antihypertensive Drug Treatment: A Randomized Crossover Trial.High Blood Press Cardiovasc Prev. 2024;31(1):65-76. doi:10.1007/s40292-024-00622-8NYU Langone Health.Lifestyle changes for autonomic disorders.Harvard Health Publishing.Eating can cause low blood pressure.American Heart Association.Low blood pressure: When blood pressure is too low.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Postural hypotension: What it is & how to manage it.Physiopedia.Hypotension.Stop Fainting.com.Sleeping with head higher than feet.National Health Service U.K.Low blood pressure (hypotension).Penn Medicine.Low Blood Pressure.Saljoughian M.Hypotension: A clinical care review.US Pharm. 2014;39(2):2-4.National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin B12.National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Folate.Mount Sinai.Shock.American Heart Association.Monitoring your blood pressure at home.American Heart Association.Understanding blood pressure readings.
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.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Low blood pressure.Lima de Castro FBA, Castro FG, da Cunha MR, et al.Acute Effects of Coffee Consumption on Blood Pressure and Endothelial Function in Individuals with Hypertension on Antihypertensive Drug Treatment: A Randomized Crossover Trial.High Blood Press Cardiovasc Prev. 2024;31(1):65-76. doi:10.1007/s40292-024-00622-8NYU Langone Health.Lifestyle changes for autonomic disorders.Harvard Health Publishing.Eating can cause low blood pressure.American Heart Association.Low blood pressure: When blood pressure is too low.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Postural hypotension: What it is & how to manage it.Physiopedia.Hypotension.Stop Fainting.com.Sleeping with head higher than feet.National Health Service U.K.Low blood pressure (hypotension).Penn Medicine.Low Blood Pressure.Saljoughian M.Hypotension: A clinical care review.US Pharm. 2014;39(2):2-4.National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin B12.National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Folate.Mount Sinai.Shock.American Heart Association.Monitoring your blood pressure at home.American Heart Association.Understanding blood pressure readings.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Low blood pressure.
Lima de Castro FBA, Castro FG, da Cunha MR, et al.Acute Effects of Coffee Consumption on Blood Pressure and Endothelial Function in Individuals with Hypertension on Antihypertensive Drug Treatment: A Randomized Crossover Trial.High Blood Press Cardiovasc Prev. 2024;31(1):65-76. doi:10.1007/s40292-024-00622-8
NYU Langone Health.Lifestyle changes for autonomic disorders.
Harvard Health Publishing.Eating can cause low blood pressure.
American Heart Association.Low blood pressure: When blood pressure is too low.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Postural hypotension: What it is & how to manage it.
Physiopedia.Hypotension.
Stop Fainting.com.Sleeping with head higher than feet.
National Health Service U.K.Low blood pressure (hypotension).
Penn Medicine.Low Blood Pressure.
Saljoughian M.Hypotension: A clinical care review.US Pharm. 2014;39(2):2-4.
National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin B12.
National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Folate.
Mount Sinai.Shock.
American Heart Association.Monitoring your blood pressure at home.
American Heart Association.Understanding blood pressure readings.
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