What To Eat To Help Raise Low Blood Pressure?

Persistent or long-term hypotension is not a sign of good health. Keep an eye on your low blood pressure and seek medical attention if your symptoms are becoming a cause of concern and make you feel weak and lightheaded. The doctor will help you understand hypotension, explain what causes it and when it is can turn dangerous. The cardiologists at the Century Medical and Dental will also guide you in making the right food choices that can raise your low blood pressure effectively and recommend lifestyle changes to enjoy good health and better quality of life in years to come.

Low blood pressure, also known as hypotension, is a blood pressure reading under 90/60 mm Hg. This condition is common and affects many people, particularly the elderly.

Health conditions that can result in low levels of blood pressure include old age, anemia, blood loss, bradycardia, diabetes, or low blood sugar as well as liver disease and trauma or head injury among others. Some are temporary and can be fixed with eating right, lifestyle changes, and medication. Identifying and treating these conditions can help balance and raise low blood pressure and maintain better health in the long run.

Symptoms of Low Blood Pressure

Commonly experienced symptoms of hypotension include:

• Fainting;
• Blurred vision;
• Dizziness;
• Lightheadedness.

If left untreated, persistently low blood pressure can result in a heart attack or stroke. It can also cause long-term damage to the heart, and it can sometimes even result in death.

What you eat has a significant effect on your heart and blood pressure. Just like you can manage hypertension or high blood pressure with diet, in the same way, many foods can help to elevate low blood pressure. With the right diet tips, it is possible to manage your low blood pressure and take it to healthier levels.

Eating Right to Raise Low Blood Pressure

Here are some best foods to raise low blood pressure that you must include in your diet if you want to get rid of hypotension.

Boost your fluid intake

Blood pressure can drop due to dehydration. When the water levels in the body decrease, the blood volume also falls, which results in low blood pressure. Healthcare experts recommend increasing your fluid intake if your blood pressure remains on the lower side. Drink at least two liters or around eight glasses of water to maintain normal blood pressure.

Your water intake should increase in hot weather or during exercise as sweating can also lead to dehydration.

Incorporate more salty foods into your diet

Eating foods with naturally high salt content can help to elevate your low blood pressure. Good sources of salt include olives, cottage cheese, soya sauce, and canned soup or tuna along with nuts. Adding table salt or sea salt to your meals is a good way of raising low blood pressure.

Go for more caffeine

Research shows beverages like coffee and caffeinated tea can increase the heart rate and cause the blood pressure to go up. It is important to note that this effect usually lasts for a short time. If you drink coffee or caffeinated beverages regularly, you may develop a high tolerance for its effects on the vascular system. It might not raise your blood pressure and affect it in any way if you keep on drinking the same beverage for a long time.

Also, caffeine intake does not affect everyone the same way, and every individual responds to it in its unique manner.

Increase your vitamin B12 intake

Vitamin B12 is very essential for the body as it aids in the production of healthy red blood cells. Lack of this nutrient can result in anemia and low pressure, which can cause excessive bleeding and organ and nerve damage if it is not addressed timely.

Eggs, chicken, fish like salmon and tuna, and low-fat dairy products are rich sources of vitamin B12 and must be included in your diet. If needed, you can also start taking vitamin B12 supplements on your doctor’s recommendation.

Take in more folate

Folate is the natural form of vitamin B9 in food, and folic acid is its synthetic form. It is another essential vitamin found in dark leafy foods such as kale, spinach, asparagus, broccoli, as well as, liver, and legumes such as lentils and chickpeas.

Folate deficiency can have many of the same symptoms as insufficiency of vitamin B12, which can cause anemia and low blood pressure. Breakfast cereals fortified with folic acid are also a good source of folic acid.

Cut down on carbs

Foods with high carb content, especially processed ones get digested very quickly as compared to other foods. It can result in a sudden drop in blood pressure which is not good for people who already suffer from low blood pressure levels.

A low-carb diet can help with off-setting hypotension, particularly in the elderly.

Eat smaller meals

Large meals take a lot more time and energy to digest, which can drop the blood pressure levels in the meantime. It becomes a problem for people who skip breakfast or lunch and overeat later as they feel hungrier and end up eating more than they should. It can lead to fluctuating blood pressure.

Even if you are not reducing the overall amount of food you are eating, cut down the size of the meal. Instead of eating three big meals a day, try to have five or six small meals throughout the day to keep your digestion and blood flow in check. If you are trying to increase your blood pressure through diet, consult with your doctor to ensure it meets your nutritional needs and helps you enjoy good mental and physical health.

Drink wisely

Drinking alcohol can dehydrate the body, which reduces blood volume and in turn, decreases blood pressure. Stay away from alcohol if your blood pressure remains on the low side, or drink responsibly. Try to drink a glass of water after every alcoholic beverage to dilute the effect of alcohol and prevent dehydration and other harmful effects of alcohol.

Keeping your blood pressure levels standard is crucial for a healthy heart and the normal functioning of the vascular system that includes the arteries and veins. Have your blood pressure checked at least once a month and an eye on your measurements to avoid any health concerns. If your blood pressure levels remain low, you must consult a doctor to learn more about your condition and what foods will improve low blood pressure. What we eat and how can have a significant and lasting impact on our bodies. Plan your meals, snacks, and beverages carefully and it will help you enjoy better mental and physical wellbeing without being dependent on medications.

Visit an experienced and board-certified cardiologist in NY to have your heart condition evaluated, know what is causing it and how to raise low blood pressure levels by making the right food choices. The heart doctors at the Century Medical and Dental Center use the most advanced diagnostic methods and multidisciplinary approaches to find out the primary cause behind low blood pressure and remedies to cure them. They recommend the best dietary solutions to help you achieve optimal health and prevent heart-related complications in the future.