How To Treat Low BP At Home Quickly
Have you ever stood up too fast and suddenly felt faint, woozy, and like you might pass out any second? Maybe your vision went a little spotty and dark around the edges too? If so, you’ve experienced a classic bout of low blood pressure – and it’s not a fun sensation at all!
For the millions of people dealing with chronic low BP (or hypotension), those dizzy spells, headaches, nausea and fatigue episodes are just par for the course. While not usually dangerous in the short term, frequent or extreme drops in blood pressure can absolutely put your life in danger.
In this blog, we will explore some simple, fast How To Treat Low BP At Home Quickly along with lifestyle adjustments you can use to raise those BP numbers and get your energy back. With just a few supplies and solutions on hand, you’ll learn to fight back against those depleting hypotension flare-ups!
Now before we dive into emergency strategies, let’s quickly explore some of the most common culprits responsible for plummeting blood pressure levels:
- Dehydration: Not taking in enough fluids, especially in hot weather or during physical exertion, literally thins out your blood volume making pumping more difficult.
- Poor Diet: Diets low in nutrients like vitamin B12, folate, and iron have been linked to increased hypotension risk. This includes most highly processed, high-salt convenience foods.
- Medication Side Effects: Drugs prescribed for anxiety, depression, Parkinson’s, erectile dysfunction and high blood pressure itself can ironically cause low BP too.
- Excess Alcohol: While a casual drink might relax you temporarily, chronic alcohol consumption actively dehydrates the body and disrupts normal blood pressure regulation.
By identifying some of these sneaky triggers in your own lifestyle, you’ve already struck a huge first blow in regaining control over hypotension. Stocking up on hydrating drinks, healthy whole foods, and skipping the cocktails all work preventatively.
But what about when lightheadedness comes on rapidly with seemingly no direct cause? Here’s where some trusty home remedies take over!
How to Treat Low BP
Fortunately, treating low blood pressure at the moment often only requires a few basic ingredients you likely already have around the house. With a little preparedness, you can quickly whip up some replenishing blends perfect for raising your BP:
Hydration Station
- Fresh water, coconut water or low-fat milk
- Fresh orange juice or other vitamin C-rich juices
- Salt lick or pinch of sea salt in your beverage
- Hard candies made with ginger or mint
Electrolyte Boosters
- Sports drinks with sodium, potassium, magnesium
- Nutrition bars packed dense with B vitamins/minerals
- Black coffee (the caffeine helps open blood vessels)
- Unsalted smooth nut butters or Greek yogurt for protein
Anti-Dizzy Snacks
- Raisins, dates, dried fruits with iron, vitamins
- Foods rich in folate – beans, leafy greens, avocado
- Protein packed eggs, lean meats, fish, dairy
- Complex carbs in whole grains, sweet potatoes
Following a dizzy spell or hypotensive episode, steadily sipping on hydrating fluids while snacking on a combination of those vitamin/mineral-boosted foods can start raising your BP within 15-20 minutes.
But if increasing your intake isn’t quite cutting it by itself, here are some auxiliary treatments worth trying:
- Go For a Walk: Just some basic light cardio activity like a stroll around the block increases heart rate and blood flow circulation throughout the body.
- Tensing Leg Muscles: Perform a series of plantarflexions by tensing calf muscles, holding for 5 seconds then releasing. This helps pump blood back upward.
- Deep Breathing: Take 5-10 minutes inhaling deeply through your nose while expanding your abdomen. This oxygenates and invigorates the cardiovascular system.
- The Hydration Helper: Down a tall glass of cool water in just a few gulps, as the rapid fluid intake quickly raises BP and blood volume.
Of course, if dizziness or lightheadedness symptoms persist for more than 20-30 minutes despite your best restorative efforts, that warrants calling your doctor. For expert guidance, schedule an appointment with Dr Reshma Singh, who is one of the best General Physician in Chandigarh.
Conclusion
Now to be totally clear here, sometimes these home remedies simply won’t properly treat more severe or chronic forms of hypotension. If your symptoms are recurring frequently or seem to have an underlying health condition triggering them, please consult with your doctor right away for proper medical testing and prescription remedies when needed.
But for milder cases brought on by things like overexertion, poor hydration or temporary hormone shifts? A little at-home TLC, common sense hydration/nourishment, and basic relaxation could be your fast ticket to rebounding from those sickening spells. No fancy treatments are required!
The key lies in understanding your personal triggers, listening to those initial body cues, and responding promptly before your BP spirals any further downward.
FAQs
Q1: What are some common symptoms of low blood pressure?
Ans: Common symptoms include feeling faint, dizzy, or woozy, especially when standing up quickly. You may also experience headaches, nausea, fatigue, and spotty vision.
Q2: How can I quickly raise my blood pressure at home?
Ans: Try drinking a glass of water quickly, eating salty snacks, or consuming foods rich in vitamin folate, and iron. Light exercise like a short walk can also help.
Q3: Can dehydration cause low blood pressure?
Ans: Yes, dehydration can lead to low blood pressure by reducing blood volume, making it harder for the heart to pump blood effectively.
Q4: Are there any exercises I can do to combat low blood pressure?
Ans: Yes, tensing your leg muscles through plantarflexions (tensing and releasing calf muscles) can help pump blood upward and raise blood pressure.
Q5: Can certain medications cause low blood pressure?
Ans: Yes, some medications for conditions like anxiety, depression, Parkinson’s, erectile dysfunction, and even high blood pressure can sometimes cause low blood pressure as a side effect.
