Health Tips: 10 Ways To Prevent Low Blood Pressure

Simple and easy ways to combat low blood pressure, such as drinking enough fluids and avoiding hot weather.

Blood pressure readings determine the force your blood has on the vessel walls caused during the process of your heart beating.Hypotension is another word for low blood pressure.In a person with low blood pressure, this measurement is less than normal, meaning the blood has too little force on the vessel walls, and can cause vital organs, such as the brain and heart, to have too little blood flow.Patients with low blood pressure complain of feeling faint, woozy, dizzy, or lightheaded.

There are several causes of low blood pressure.Some drugs cause low blood pressure.For example, patients taking blood pressure medication for high blood pressure (hypertension) may experience low blood pressure.Other blood pressure medications work by increasing the width of blood vessels, thus lowering blood pressure.However, causing hypotension because of high blood pressure medication is a rare occurrence with the newest drugs for hypertension. Some blood pressure medications are diuretics and work by eliminating fluid from the body, thus decreasing the volume of blood present in the body.Other drugs commonly associated with this condition are anti-anxiety drugs, anti-depressants, diuretics, and alcohol.

Patients experiencing dehydration may experience low blood pressure.Some people may experience low blood pressure when abruptly standing up after sitting or resting.This is known as orthostatic hypotension, which occurs because too much blood collects or pools in the veins of the lower body too quickly for the blood vessels to adapt to the change.This happens simply because of gravity.Another example of hypotension occurs after eating a heavy meal.Both causes of hypotension are more common among the elderly because of normal changes that occur in aging.

Certain heart conditions, such as congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction (heart attack), and arrhythmias can cause hypotension. Severe bleeding or dehydration due to vomiting, severe sweating and urination, and diarrhea, can also induce low blood pressure. Conditions that can damage nerve endings, such as diabetes and spinal cord injuries, can affect how the body regulates blood vessel width leading to low blood pressure.

So, how can you prevent low blood pressure?

1. Drink lots of fluids to maintain blood volume and avoid dehydration.This is especially important during physical exertion or heat exposure.These conditions may bring about excessive sweating, causing a loss in body fluids.In addition, these conditions may cause the body's temperature to rise.When this occurs, blood vessels respond by enlarging.This causes a drop in blood pressure.

2. If you are suffering from diarrhea or severe vomiting, make sure to drink lots of fluids to keep your body hydrated.

3. Avoid overly hot showers or baths, which can cause the body's temperature to rise.

4. After resting or sitting, stand up slowly and carefully to help your body to adjust to the pull of gravity.

5. Make sure to get enough sleep.Fatigue is also a contributing factor in hypotension, especially orthostatic hypotension.

6. Eat small meals.Eating heavy meals can play a role in hypotension, since the digestion process requires more blood in the digestive tract.So, rather then eating three large meals eat many small meals to help the digestive system.

7. Avoid alcohol.

8. Avoid standing for long periods of time.

9. Some experts recommend wearing stockings, which may help decrease the accumulation of blood in the lower limbs, which occurs when abruptly standing.

10. If you have just begun a new medication, such as an anti-depressant, and have noticed lately that you feel faint or lightheaded upon standing, talk to your doctor.Some medications cause low blood pressure.

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