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The Doctors Book of Home Remedies for Women: Low Blood Pressure

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Low Blood Pressure

Low Blood Pressure

Pump Up Your B.P.--And Your Well-Being

Thirty seconds earlier, Pamela had no idea that she would find herself lying on her back in the middle of a crowd of people waiting for a bus in the noonday heat. But there she was, prone on a hot sidewalk. A month of strenuous dieting and daily tennis matches had left her vulnerable to a sudden drop in blood pressure. And when it dropped, so did she.

In the absence of problems, blood pressure hovers around 120/80 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) or so. What makes it tumble?

When To See A Doctor

If you repeatedly feel faint and light-headed during the day, check with your doctor, says Debra R. Judelson, M.D., senior partner with the Cardiovascular Medical Group of Southern California in Beverly Hills, fellow of the American College of Cardiology and president of the American Medical Women's Association. Also see your doctor if you are actually losing consciousness upon standing or if you repeatedly feel light-headed, tired or weak along with signs of internal bleeding such as dark stools, she says. In younger women low blood pressure may be a sign of chronic fatigue syndrome, according to researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore. In older women, especially, symptoms of low blood pressure may suggest the possibility of serious problems such as heart disease.

In women Pamela's age--in their forties or younger--blood pressure can drop below 90/60 mmHg during pregnancy, hot weather or crash dieting, says Debra R. Judelson, M.D., senior partner with the Cardiovascular Medical Group of Southern California in Beverly Hills, fellow of the American College of Cardiology and president of the American Medical Women's Association. If someone is on high blood pressure medication or has heart problems, the blood pressure drop can be even more significant, she says.

PUMP UP THE PRESSURE

Low blood pressure can leave you feeling light-headed, sluggish or headachy. On the other hand, you can walk around with low blood pressure and not know it or feel it unless you happen to have your blood pressure checked for some reason. If you tend to experience bothersome drops in blood pressure, says Dr. Judelson, giving it a boost is easy.

Drink lots of fluids. When you're sweating your way through a heat spell, blood pressure can plummet quickly because of dehydration, says Dr. Judelson. If you're feeling faint, reach for a sports drink or bouillon. Replace lost fluids, and your blood pressure will return to normal, relieving your symptoms, she adds. The sugar in these drinks will speed fluid into your cells, and the salt will help it stay there. Of course, plain water will also work wonders.

Eat. Feeling woozy? When was the last time that you ate? If it has been more than a couple of hours since your last meal or snack, says Dr. Judelson, grab a bite to eat, even if it's just half a sandwich or a piece of fruit. You'll feel better in a jiffy.

Stand up s-l-o-w-l-y. Some people feel dizzy when they first stand up after sitting or lying down, a cardinal sign of momentarily low blood pressure. This is caused by blood rushing to your legs from other areas. But your body can quickly adjust to it if you sit, jiggle your legs for a few moments, then stand slowly, says Dr. Judelson. If the light-headedness returns, simply sit or lie down again until the feeling of faintness passes. Then stand up more slowly.

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