Natural Ways to Raise Blood Pressure?

[ShinyGlass]

I have low blood pressure. It's low on a regular basis, but the last time I went to the doctor, it was something like 95 over 62. When I tried to discuss it with him, he just made a joke about people being jealous of me (I guess since so many people have high blood pressure).

Often when I stand up I get a little dizzy and things go black. Getting up out of bed this morning, I almost fell.

What are the implications and consequences of low blood pressure? If it doesn't get corrected, what could happen?

And yes, I know my doctor is an idiot. But I've never met one who wasn't, so I'm not going to dwell on that aspect right now.

Any insight very welcomed

[Annabelle]

I´m no authority on the subject, but my grandma lived all her life with low blood pressure without any trouble. she used to take a few glasses of wine every day and she said that did the trick. So maybe it is true, you´re lucky!

[Dreamline]

Ginseng raises blood pressure, I believe. Read about it thoroughly, though. It can have unwanted side effects.

Jennifer

[aggie]

i have an aunt with low b/p that uses wine also.

ginseng and other herbs can raise b/p....but that is something you should investigate further without self medicating.

you are right...there are people that would be jealous!

i work for a doctor and i know they can be idiots...but you might want to see a cardiologist...they would be the experts in this field and its treatment...if it is in fact creating a problem for you...since it is all tied up with the cardiovascular system. good luck.

[Mogget]

Originally Posted by ShinyGlass

I have low blood pressure. It's low on a regular basis, but the last time I went to the doctor, it was something like 95 over 62. When I tried to discuss it with him, he just made a joke about people being jealous of me (I guess since so many people have high blood pressure).

Often when I stand up I get a little dizzy and things go black. Getting up out of bed this morning, I almost fell.

What are the implications and consequences of low blood pressure? If it doesn't get corrected, what could happen?

And yes, I know my doctor is an idiot. But I've never met one who wasn't, so I'm not going to dwell on that aspect right now.

Any insight very welcomed

Generally advice for low blood pressure includes wearing compression stockings, drinking salted water, consuming caffeine and get regular exercise (which increases blood pressure temporarily).

Before getting out of bed raise your legs to encourage more blood flow in your upper body to help prevent the dizzy spells.


As people with high blood pressure can be taught bio-feedback techniques to lower it I would also look into using bio-feedback to raise your blood pressure.

[kimmeth]

Yes, I'm kinda tired of the cute remarks too. My all time low was 82/50 and even then all my doc said was she was jealous. It seems to me that is it more important how one feels if they consistently pull numbers in the 96/62 range – personally I DO NOT feel that great being so low all the time. And I can tell you consistently low blood pressure doesn't allow much room for any other transient health problems like a mild anemia or low blood sugar. For instance, the last time I had a really bad cold, I had a brown-out just coughing really hard.

As for myself, I've recently asked to be assessed for an adrenal condition because of some other symptoms I have been experiencing and the results are pending. Before my mother was prescribed medication she underwent a standing versus sitting blood pressure test as well as the tilting table test to assess the root cause. Perhaps just out of curiosity the standing/sitting comparative is something you might want to consider on your next doc visit?

The only other advice I've encountered aside from activity, compression socks, increasing salt and caffeine, is drinking beetroot juice twice a day. IME I don't tolerate caffeine all that well and I am getting a little sick of salt frankly. I don't presently have any input on the beetroot juice or ginseng but I'll report back if I find good results with either.

Good Luck!!!

[ssandra]

For me it works to eat more salt and whenever I feel very dizzy, to increase my red meat and spinach. That is mainly for the iron, I think.

It also has something to do with my attitude towards life it seems. Whenever I feel powerful and strong, it doesn't bother me and my blood pressure goes up. Whenever I feel helpless and weak (emotionally), I get more and more dizzy.

Doing exercise also helps a lot.

[ginkgo]

Doctors say that 40% of Americans over age 40 have high blood pressure. There are different causes of this. While the low blood pressure appears to be genetic. The doctors have found the lower it is, the better, as long as there are no symptoms.

First do you know of any famous people with this condition? Ex-President George Bush has it and did pass out while president. So always be careful getting up.

To help with it, do things that are good for health like exercise (mentioned above) and getting lots of bright sunlight. You cannot force it higher and that is not the goal. The goal is to get rid of the symptoms.

Also the foods that help lower high blood pressure will help to raise low blood pressure. See drugs are bad since they force an effect on your body. Foods are good since the nutrition helps the body to do what it needs to do.

[moonboot]

I`ve just googled this site up so forgive me.... anyway I have a salt fetish, even grow my own crystals then eat them (unhealthy I know) caffeine - OMG NEVER DECAFF coffee exercise? well I walk & cycle miles but nothing works

seen my doc about it, just get fobbed off

usually worst in the morning, last time it happened I answered the door and fell back thru the bedroom door hit my shoulder and leg on something then woke up a few seconds later got up and just carried on... luckliy was my wife at the door but none of the above works for me, as for wine... nah - cant stand it....

getting up from a low position like bed or the chair raising my feet wud probable work and take things slow but OMG u wud miss whoevers at the door so defeats the object.

I have been told they treat it in USA but here in the UK nadda

u know the worst part of it is actually just waking up and finding urself on the floor, then next day bruises cuts & sores.... and most embarrasing part of it is if happens infront of someone that dosnt know u that well then stand up and explain...

I DONT MIND IT but OMG it has hurt me in so many places... its just the getting up again and rubbing ur shoulder or wherever and thinking what happened this time, then u find out later what happened but OMG it hurts

had it for 20 years on / off so far as I know but certain times seem worse for me... still havnt figured that part out

any comments or possible cures?

[SuperKyle]

ok so after reading over several comments trying to better understand my own low blood pressure, and investigating Google for other methods of raising blood pressure, i found that the kidneys respond to changes in blood pressure by increasing or decreasing the amount of urine that is produced. Urine is primarily water that is removed from the blood. When the kidney makes more urine, the amount (volume) of blood that fills the arteries and veins decreases, and this lowers blood pressure. If the kidneys make less urine, the amount of blood that fills the arteries and veins increases and this increases blood pressure. So to make a long story short, the kidneys two main jobs are to regulate body fluids and to excrete toxic wastes from the body, which means the more wine or ginseng you consume will only hurt you in the long run. (minimize drinking to a last resort for low blood pressure and keep it under 6 drinks a week) so if you can promote good kidney health it will help your body increase its blood pressure for the long term.

SHAZAM THERE ARE THE FACTS!
and guess what.. im 17 and it only took me 20 minutes to figure all this out minus the small bit of time it took me to type all this out and make an account.
;P

[Solipsist]

I swear, I could probably write a book on high blood pressure. Grandmother had it. Mother had it. Sister had it.

If you want to raise your blood pressure, just smoke and/or eat stuff with lots of sodium.

Done.

[moniforum]

@ SuperKyle

Wait!!!! No please don't stop drinking water!! You will kill your kidneys. You're suppose to drink like 8 glasses a day, how can you possible survive with less than 6 glasses a week. Oh my I hope you didn't do that. Plus if your dehydrated your blood pressure will go even more down.

I studied a pre-med course for 5 years. And based on what I know is if you have low pressure, it would actually be advisable for you to drink more fluids. Because this will increase your blood volume which will actually increase your blood pressure.

Plus if you don't drink water, your kidney will die. Seriously. And you need your kidney. Cuz it responds to low blood pressure. When you have low bp, it makes the enzyme renin which converts angiotensin 1 to angiotensin 2 which actually makes your blood vessels constrict (which increases bp).

To read more about hypotension check this out:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007278.htm

Some of the advice in this website is
Avoiding alcohol
Avoiding standing for a long time (if you get low bp from standing long)
"Drinking plenty of fluids"
Getting up slowly after sitting or lying down
Using compression stockings to increase blood pressure in the legs

Please if you have symptoms of low bp like feeling lightheaded or fainting (like the one guy in this forum), please consult a physician. This is dangerous.

I myself just purchased an electronic bp checker. I recently just realized that when i was feeling lightheaded/sleepy/dizzy (usually after eating or standing for a long time), my bp was low. Below the normal 90/60. I plan on going to a doctor. I'll update you guys if ever anyone wants to know. But usually its case to case basis how serious this is. If you have symptoms, your doctor should check if there is anything wrong with your heart or even endocrine system.

Well God bless. Hope this message isn't too late.

P.S. I don't think it so advisable to go wild and start smoking and eating junk food to get hypertension. That will damage other organs too and you will regret it in the long run. Not worth it.

[moniforum]

In my case, i kinda agree with ssandra when she said this "It also has something to do with my attitude towards life it seems. Whenever I feel powerful and strong, it doesn't bother me and my blood pressure goes up. Whenever I feel helpless and weak (emotionally), I get more and more dizzy."

[Medusa locked]

I don't know too much about this topic, but I read somewhere that isometric exercises increases blood pressure. Also, I think caffeine can boost it.

Nobody on this thread has talked about the effects of exercise on blood pressure. I know cardio is usually recommended if you want to lower it, but it can also increase it if low bp is the issue.

[Razia]

Eating salty food is good to raise blood pressure.

[adairemartin]

Regarding low blood pressure, I too fall in the 90/60 range. My whole family has high blood pressure so my doctor as well says I am lucky. Doesnt always feel that way. I have tried to increase salt in my diet and it caused me to feel alot sicker than normal. I cannot stand wine. I monitor my fluid intake closely due to some medication I am on that dehydrates my body. I cant handle coffee that well it makes me bounce off the walls. I also have bipolar disorder, spina bifida, and possibly fibromyalgia which has not been diagnosed, but my mother and aunt have it and I have been showing signs and symptoms. So I need to find natural ways to raise my blood pressure and so far have had no luck and the doctor thinks im paranoid and should be happy I will not suffer the same problems as my family with their high blood pressure and high cholesterol.