Having high blood pressure tends to be more dangerous than having low blood pressure. Low blood pressure is something that many people aim to have, although it can be dangerous if the blood pressure becomes too low. The best thing to do if you have either high or low blood pressure is to monitor your blood pressure both at the doctor’s office and at home. Keeping a record of your blood pressure levels will help you see how your different treatment options are working and by showing you your blood pressure levels on and off treatment. Treating both high and low blood pressure can come naturally and from medications. Choosing which option is best for you will be determined by your overall health and what recommendations are made by your doctor.
Low blood pressure is not always a bad thing. It does become a problem when the symptoms like dizziness, lightheadedness and vision problems accompany a drop in blood pressure. Symptoms can be exacerbated by exercise, dehydration and even pregnancy. More life-threatening triggers include heavy blood loss, severe infection and allergic reactions. These can cause shock and dangerously low blood pressure levels.
You can make simple changes in your lifestyle to ensure that you treat your low blood pressure correctly. Getting regular exercise and eating a healthy diet full of nutrients will be beneficial. When sleeping, you should elevate the head of your bed by placing bricks or blocks under the bed. You should drink a lot of water and other fluids that are non-alcoholic. You should also drink more fluids than normal when you are sick with the flu or a cold. You should talk to your doctor about different elastic support stockings that cover the calf and the thigh. These can help restrict blood flow to the legs and keep more blood in the upper body.
Many of the natural treatment options that are used in the treatment for low blood pressure usually work for helping prevent the symptoms from occurring. In rare cases, these treatment options do not work and medication needs to be used. One medication that can be used is fludrocortisone. It promotes sodium retention by the kidney. This causes fluid retention and some swelling which improves blood pressure. When taking this mediation, it is important to get enough potassium. The other medication that is used in low blood pressure treatment is midodrine. This activates receptors on the smallest arteries and veins. This produces an increase in blood pressure.
High blood pressure can cause diseases like heart attack, stroke, heart failure and kidney disease. Some people who are prone to high blood pressure have to start treatment early because preventative measures will not work. Others can use preventative measures to combat high blood pressure. Treatment for high blood pressure is similar to treatment for low blood pressure. Natural treatments and lifestyle changes tend to work the best, while medications are only used in severe cases.
Losing weight and maintaining a diet that is rich in nutrients and low in sodium will help lower blood pressure. Exercising regularly will help with high blood pressure. It helps circulation and also will help people lose weight. Losing weight is extremely important. Losing just ten pounds can help a person’s blood pressure lower. Limiting alcohol is important as well. Women should have only one drink a day, and men should limit them to two drinks.
There are medications for people with high blood pressure if the lifestyle changes and natural remedies do not work. One medication is called a beta blocker. This medication reduces the work that your heart has to do and opens up the blood vessels. This causes your heart to beat slower and with less force. Another medication is called a calcium channel blocker. This type of medication helps relax the muscles of your blood vessels, and other types slow your heart rate. Makes sure to talk to your doctor about certain side-effects on any medication.
Treating both high and low blood pressure can be as simple as making some lifestyle changes. Medications can be used if your doctor believes that they are necessary. No matter what type of blood pressure you have, treating it will be beneficial not only to your heart, but your overall health.
