How to raise your blood pressure when its low

Low Blood Pressure, also known as hypotension, is a medical condition where a person’s blood pressure reaches such a low level that it leads to adverse symptoms such as dizziness, fainting, nausea, fatigue, difficulty in breathing, and blurred vision.

When the readings hover around 90/60 mm Hg or lower, it can be termed as hypotension. It can be measured using millimeters of mercury (mmHg). When the blood pressure is low, then it can cause a decreased supply of blood to organs such as the brain, kidney, and heart.

It can be caused by several factors such as dehydration, prolonged rest, deficiency in nutrition, lower volume of blood, heart problems, pregnancy, and neurological conditions. Some medications such as alpha-blockers, beta-blockers, diuretics, and antidepressants can also lead to low blood pressure.

If you have low blood pressure, emergency treatment at home is extremely easy. There are several home remedies for low blood pressure which you can follow. These home remedies for low BP include both lifestyle changes as well as a specific diet plan.

Lifestyle Changes for Low BP

● Eat small meals frequently – Consuming smaller and more frequent meals has been known to help with hypotension. This is because smaller and frequent meals reduce the gap between each meal and also keep you filled with the right nutrients, thereby reducing the chances of low blood pressure, as compared to larger and heavier meals.

● Increase salt intake – A sure shot low BP treatment at home is to increase your salt intake. Salt contains sodium and for people with blood pressure problems, higher sodium intake can be a good solution. Thus, consuming more salt can help raise your blood pressure.

● Wear compression stockings – The role of compression stockings is to decrease the amount of blood to be constricted to your lower legs and help it to be distributed throughout the body. They can also help to reduce the pressure and pain arising out of varicose veins. You can easily buy them for yourself online.

● Don’t get up or move around quickly – Any sudden or rapid movements can cause problems for someone with low blood pressure. For example, sitting up or standing up quickly can make you feel lightheaded, dizzy, or can even cause you to faint.

● Avoid alcohol – Alcohol can cause your blood pressure to fall so if you already have low blood pressure, you should avoid any sort of alcoholic beverages.

● Drink plenty of water – Water helps increase the volume of blood as well as reduce any chances of dehydration. Both of these can help in increasing your blood pressure.

Diet Plan for Low BP

● Drink coffee with your meals – Make sure you have a cup of coffee along with your meals. Coffee or any other caffeinated beverage can help increase your blood pressure. If you’re suffering from low blood pressure, then having a cup of coffee in the morning can be an instant remedy for low blood pressure. You can also have it as part of your meals, especially when you’re dealing with orthostatic hypotension.

● Eat complex carbs with every meal – Choosing a diet that is low in carbohydrates can help increase your blood pressure. If you’re adding carbs to your diet, it’s best to choose complex carbohydrates such as oatmeal, whole wheat bread, and barley instead of pasta and white bread.

● Snack on almonds and raisins – The easiest way to treat low blood pressure at home is to consume almonds and raisins. Raisins are an ideal Ayurvedic remedy to help cure hypotension naturally. You can soak a few raisins in water overnight and have them in the morning on an empty stomach and also drink the water in which they were soaked. You can try these for a few weeks and months. Almond is another alternative home remedy for low blood pressure You can follow the same procedure for almonds as you did for raisins.

● Drink carrot and beetroot juice – Starting your day with a glass of fresh carrot juice with honey can help maintain blood pressure since they help regulate the heart and kidney functions. Beetroot juice again is an effective antidote to help stabilize your blood pressure. For people with hypotension, consuming two glasses of beetroot juice for a week can give you good results.

● Enjoy a cup of liquorice tea – Another one of the instant home remedies for low blood pressure is liquorice root. It can help normalize blood pressure resulting from low cortisol levels. Liquorice helps break down the enzyme that disintegrates cortisol and helps in healthy functioning of adrenaline. It also helps in healing symptoms of chronic fatigue. Drinking liquorice tea daily for a few weeks can give you good results. You can also choose to take liquorice capsules.

Dr. Keshava Murthy, Senior Interventional Cardiologist Cardiology – Adult, Narayana Multispeciality Hospital, Mysore

Low blood pressure is a reading of less than 90/60mmHg. It does not always cause symptoms, but you may need treatment if it does.

Symptoms of low blood pressure

Get your blood pressure checked if you keep getting symptoms like:

  • lightheadedness or dizziness
  • feeling sick
  • blurred vision
  • generally feeling weak
  • confusion
  • fainting

This might mean your blood pressure is too low.

If you get symptoms when you stand up or suddenly change position, you may have postural hypotension.

How to check your blood pressure

You can check your blood pressure:

  • by asking if a pharmacist can do it
  • by asking a practice nurse or GP to do it
  • at home yourself using a home blood pressure monitor – Blood Pressure UK has information about choosing a blood pressure monitor

Low blood pressure is a measurement of less than 90/60mmHg.

Regular blood pressure check

If you're 40 to 74 years old, you should have your blood pressure checked at least once every 5 years as part of the NHS Health Check.

Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:

  • you keep getting symptoms such as dizziness and fainting

Treatment for low blood pressure depends on the cause

If a cause can be found, a GP will be able to recommend treatment to ease your symptoms.

For example, they may suggest:

  • changing medicines or altering your dose, if this is the cause
  • wearing support stockings – this can improve circulation and increase blood pressure

Medicine to increase blood pressure is rarely needed because simple lifestyle measures or treating the underlying cause is usually effective.

How to ease low blood pressure symptoms yourself

Do

  • get up slowly from sitting to standing

  • take care when getting out of bed – move slowly from lying to sitting to standing

  • raise the head of your bed by about 15cm (6 inches) with bricks or heavy books

  • eat small, frequent meals – lying down or sitting still for a while after eating may also help

  • increase the amount of water you drink

Don’t

  • do not sit or stand for long periods

  • do not bend down or change posture suddenly

  • do not drink caffeinated drinks at night

  • do not drink too much alcohol

Causes of low blood pressure

Your blood pressure can vary depending on the time of day. It gradually increases throughout the day.

What you're doing and how you're feeling can also affect it.

There are many possible causes of low blood pressure. It may be low because you're fit and healthy, or you may have inherited it from your parents.

Some people develop low blood pressure as they get older.

It can also be caused by:

  • being pregnant
  • some medical conditions, such as diabetes
  • some medicines

Page last reviewed: 09 September 2020
Next review due: 09 September 2023

What can you eat to raise your blood pressure when it's too low?

Eat Salty Foods Foods with high salt content can elevate your blood pressure. Good sources of salt include olives, cottage cheese, and canned soup or tuna. You can also add table salt or sea salt to your meals, depending on your preference.

How can I raise my blood pressure suddenly?

You can help your body manage blood pressure by adopting lifestyle changes that help you get and stay healthy..
Lose weight and maintain healthy weight. ... .
Exercise regularly. ... .
Healthy eating habits..
Eat less sodium..
Avoid stress..
Limit alcohol and caffeine intake. ... .
Stop using tobacco..