High blood pressure gets a lot of press — why it’s bad, what you can do about it, and more. But low blood pressure can be a serious problem, too!
What can cause low blood pressure?
- Standing up quickly — this can cause a brief imbalance in your circulatory system that leaves you feeling light-headed for a moment.
- Eating a large meal.
- Standing for a long period of time. This can put you at risk for falling if you get light-headed.
- Certain medications can cause low blood pressure.
- Dehydration.
- Diabetes.
If you are experiencing low blood pressure frequently, you should probably talk to your doctor. As you can see from the list above, some causes are more dangerous than others.
For occasional bouts of low blood pressure, here are some tricks to help keep your circulatory system in balance:
- Drink plenty of water. Dehydration can reduce your blood volume, which can lead to low blood pressure. Drinking throughout the day can keep your blood at regular volume.
- Unlock your knees. If you have to be on your feet for a long time, keep your legs flexed so blood can flow more smoothly. The muscle tension in your legs with your knees unlocked helps keep the blood moving.
- Don’t stand perfectly still. If you stay still, your blood can pool. If you keep moving — shifting from one foot to the other, standing on your toes, and walking in place — your blood can keep moving, too.
- Get out of bed slowly. Stretch before you get up — don’t just spring out of bed. Use a chair or handrail to help you get out of bed.
- Eat more frequent, smaller meals. After a big meal, blood heads towards your stomach — and that means that less blood is available for the rest of your body. Smaller meals will help keep blood flow more even.