Naturopathy, Diet and Low Blood Pressure

Low blood pressure is also known as hypotension and the good news is that it can be treated with diet changes, medication, homeopathy and other measures. Taking the naturopathic, holistic route towards prevention and treatment of this condition can be very helpful if you are feeling fatigued every day.

It is key to understand what your blood pressure reading is. Your blood pressure reading consists of two numbers. The first number in a blood pressure reading, this is the amount of pressure your heart generates when pumping blood through your arteries to the rest of your body.  The second number refers to the amount of pressure when your heart is at rest between beats. Usually they're written one above or before the other, such as 120/80. If your blood pressure reading is 90/60 or lower, you have low blood pressure.

Symptoms of Low Blood Pressure

Most people with low blood pressure have absolutely no symptoms.  Some people feel dizzy if they stand up quickly or lie down quickly.  Fainting, inability to concentrate, blurred vision, cold clammy skin, rapid shallow breathing and fatigue could be caused by low blood pressure. Severely low blood pressure can deprive the brain and organs of oxygen and cause severe shock.

Causes of Low Blood Pressure

People who exercise regularly tend to have lower blood pressure than do people who aren't as fit. So, in general, do nonsmokers and people who eat well and maintain a normal weight.

Low blood pressure is common in pregnant individual. As a woman’s circulatory system expands rapidly during pregnancy, blood pressure is likely to drop. During the first 24 weeks of pregnancy, systolic pressure commonly drops by five to 10 points and diastolic pressure by as much as 10 to 15 points.

Many medications can cause low blood pressure, including diuretics (and other drugs that treat high blood pressure. Heart medications such as beta-blockers, drugs for Parkinson's disease, tricyclic antidepressants, Viagra narcotics and alcohol can also cause severely low blood pressure.

Some kinds of heart conditions can cause low blood pressure including heart valve problems and a condition that slows down the heartbeat called bradycardia. These conditions may cause low blood pressure because they prevent your body from being able to circulate enough blood. 

Disorders of the endocrine glands, including an underactive or overactive thyroid can also cause low blood pressure as can Addison’s disease low blood sugar and diabetes. All of these conditions can be treated with hormone replacement therapy and changes ind diet.

Dehydration caused by fever, vomiting, severe diarrhea, overuse of diuretics and strenuous exercise can cause low blood pressure.  This is because dehydration reduces the volume of blood in the body.

A lack of the vitamins B-12 and folate can cause anemia, which in turn can lead to low blood pressure.  Sometimes vegans and vegetarians have this condition as a result of not eating enough meat and a dietician or ND here at Pinewood might recommend vitamin shots or supplements for you.

As people age they may experience low blood pressure after eating. This is caused by a large amount of blood flowing into the digestive tract.

Care and Treatment of Low Blood Pressure

Doctors usually try to address the primary health problem — dehydration, heart failure, diabetes or hypothyroidism, for example — rather than low blood pressure itself. When low blood pressure is caused by medications, treatment usually involves changing the dose of the medication or stopping it entirely.

If it's not clear what's causing low blood pressure or no effective treatment exists, the goal is to raise your blood pressure and reduce signs and symptoms. 

One way to raise your blood pressure is to add more salt to your diet but make sure that you are consuming the right type of salt. This is where consultation with a dietician or naturopath is important.

If your low blood pressure is caused by low blood volume then you need to drink more water.Low blood pressure  can managed with minor changes in diet – such as  adding salt to your food.

To book a consultation about anti-aging, diet and weight loss programs or any health issue you may be experiencing, visit the Pinewood Natural Health Clinic website that has a list of full services and products at www.pinewood.ca or call our Toronto Office at  (416)-656- 8100.  We also have an office in Pickering, Ontario at (905)-427-0057. You can also email us at info@pinewoodhealth.ca and we would be happy to answer any question that you have about our holistic health services.