Very low blood pressure - any tips on how to raise it? Feeling like death [grin]

[NonsensicalHair]

My blood pressure has always been on the "low side of normal" (GPs words) but for the past few days it's been even lower and I'm wondering how to bring it up as I've been feeling pretty exhausted and often a bit ill.

Yesterday I had readings of 85/52, 87/45 and 81/41 which made me suspect I may be dead This is low, even for me. The better readings were 98/58 and similar. Today I've rocketed up to 101/59 so that's more normal. I'm properly hydrated (always wee-ing) and not on any medication.

I do suffer from ME so never feel particularly and energetic but would love to know how to raise my blood pressure so that doesn't contribute to exhaustion.

Any tips gratefully received!

How come you measure it so often?

@LapinR0se - Generally, I don't. Had been feeling a bit crappier than usual so hauled out the old monitor (dusty). One I saw it was low, decided to keep a check on it. To get an accurate picture of how/when/if it changes. Useful if I end up needing to go to the GP as I can then say it wasn't just a one off.

Gotcha. My BP is also low. Eating salty food and drinking plenty of water helps but not much else you can do.

Yes, plenty of fluids.

Salt and fluids. Mine went to 60/30 when I was pregnant. The obstetrician said to eat crisps for breakfast!

Right, off to buy some salt. Hate the stuff. Can't stand salty food. But for my health....Don't even have any in the house.

@Kittenss - 60/30?? Good grief!

Even just salted crisps would be good

Salt. A dr.once told me to tap my feet and fidget too

Salt
Keep hydrated
Massage - really helps!
Acupuncture

Budge up,

83/58 here.

Crisps are good. My DF has low blood pressure and the doctor always suggests he eat more salty stuff, particularly crisps. At least that's what my dad says

Yes also saying salt and fluids. Also electrolyte drinks.
I have POTS and blood pressure drops when I stand so I have slow release sodium tablets prescribed. These help a lot. Check your breathing is ok too. Mine goes shallow a lot and this doesn’t help either.

And have even more salt and fluids in the heat too. Add salt to everything!

I put Maldon salt flakes on bread.

I bloody love crisps (despite hating salt...) but have lost weight lately and don't think there's room for them, calorie wise. Not if chocolate is still going to feature anyway.

Fluids and crisps on repeat, especially on hot days. That's what I'm doing right now!

(I also have low blood pressure normally, and 'on the floor' blood pressure in pregnancy)

I was just about to say salt too. Sorry you don't like salty foods - that makes it trickier. Can you bear flavoured crisps, salami, cheese or Hobnobs? Or any processed foods - Subway sandwiches are famously salty.

A packet of salt & vinegar crisps is about 130 calories so not too caloric as a breakfast.

A lot of tinned soups have a fair bit of added salt.

I sympathise OP, mine is usually around 87/58 when checked at the GP and I generally feel ok with it but as soon as it warms up like today I feel like I'm going to faint anytime I stand up a bit too quick!

Blimey mine is lowish but not as low as some of yours! Also came to sat salt, particularly sports drinks. Just put a big pinch of salt in your squash to make your own.

If you put salt in something like diet coke you really can't taste it.

I love salty things and gleefully laugh in the face of health advice that says to eat low salt, as I know it IS healthy for me.

Yes I did scare the doctors with my blood pressure when in hospital. Its annoying though as then they put me on 2 hr blood pressure checks through the night so I never got any sleep, despite me telling them that such low blood pressure is normal for me.

Sports drinks don't taste salty at all! That's a good idea!

Same here - on beta blockers and normally run low anyway . Every time I’m in hospital the doctors are sent for at 2/3am asking if I normally run so low - also get down to 60/30-40 or so at night . Funnily enough it skyrockets at GP .

Definitely add salty foods - GP told me to add cheese, proper butter, etc to stuff, eat crisps with lunch, I drink lucozade sport constantly, or water with added electrolytes . It’s a horrible feeling, I can tell when I’m too low as start feeling sick and head gets swimmy - not pleasant . Woken up on the floor in shops a few times !

Ohh that feeling when you know what's coming 😬 I've had to lie on floor with raised feet in a few odd places. My poor family haha