How to deal with low blood pressure

People with low blood pressure should lie down and rest, raise their legs higher than their heads, eat chocolate or drink some ginger tea to bring their blood pressure back to normal.

Blood pressure is the force of blood against the blood vessel walls, a healthy level is about 120/80 mmHg, lower than 90/60 mmHg is low blood pressure.

To ensure that all parts of the body, especially the brain, heart, and lungs, receive plenty of oxygen, blood pressure naturally changes throughout the day according to the needs of the organs. The body also continuously adjusts and balances blood pressure. This index can drop if you stand up suddenly, and usually decreases when you sleep or rest.

Master, Doctor, CKII Huynh Thanh Kieu, Head of Department of Internal Medicine Cardiology 1, Cardiovascular Center, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, said that people with sudden drop in blood pressure have symptoms such as blurred vision, dizziness, difficulty maintaining balance, sweating, rapid and shallow breathing. Severe cases can cause nausea, vomiting, confusion, loss of consciousness or fainting... The doctor suggested how to handle this situation.

When blood pressure is mildly low, the patient should lie down on a flat surface or sit back in a chair, using a pillow to support the head and legs so that the legs are higher than the head. Drink a glass of water or milk, eat more chocolate, candy or ginger tea, ginseng water... to help blood pressure return to normal soon. When more awake, the patient should be helped to sit up slowly, practice moving the limbs to avoid dizziness.

Patients with dangerous symptoms such as coma, confusion, loss of balance, and loss of consciousness need to be taken to a medical facility as soon as possible.

Low blood pressure is when the reading is below 90/60 mmHg. Photo: Freepik

To prevent sudden drop in blood pressure, Dr. Kieu advises the following ways:

Drink enough water : Dehydration can sometimes lead to low blood pressure. Some people have low blood pressure even with mild dehydration such as vomiting, severe diarrhea, fever, excessive sweating during exercise... Some diuretics can also cause dehydration.

Balanced diet: Lack of nutrients is also the cause of low blood pressure. People who lack vitamin B12, folic acid and iron can become anemic, which gradually leads to low blood pressure. You should eat a variety of vitamins and minerals from green vegetables, fruits or grains so that the body has enough necessary nutrients.

Eat small meals frequently: Low blood pressure after a large meal is more common in older people. After a full meal, blood concentrates in the digestive system to support the absorption of nutrients, causing many organs to lack blood, including the brain, causing low blood pressure. This can be overcome by eating small meals frequently.

Limit or avoid alcohol: Alcoholic beverages can lead to dehydration, interact with medications, and cause low blood pressure.

Wear compression stockings: Compression stockings or stockings can help prevent blood from pooling in the legs, thereby reducing the risk of postural hypotension. This is a drop in blood pressure when standing or when lying down or sitting for too long, and is common in older adults.

Taking medication: Patients should take blood pressure medication regularly as prescribed by their doctor, if any.

Dr. Kieu recommends that patients should actively monitor their blood pressure index with a blood pressure monitor at home. If this condition occurs frequently, patients should see a cardiologist to find the cause and receive early treatment.

Bao Bao

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