Low blood pressure - self help measures?

[8008Bee]

I've always had blood pressure on the lowish side. I am part of Our Future Health and they checked my blood pressure and said it was very low. They seemed amazed I wasn't having any symptoms (not fainting etc.).

So i am always careful when I get up, get out of the bath, on the loo, standing on trains in the heat etc. but that's it. I am, however, suffering from persistent fatigue (likely to be from long covid/persistent viral infections) and wondered whether it could be contributing to it?

Apparently there is no treatment for it anyway other than trying to eat a bit more salt (which I'm trying and it is helping a bit).

Are there any other self help measures I could do?

What is your usual bp?

I have been through phases of low bp; I've been on a health kick and been improving my v02 max and strengthening muscles. But I also have been drinking some water with a twist of rock salt and squeeze of lemon or lime to hydrate, especially when it's hot and after exercise.

I've recently noticed I'm not feeling the effects of low bp as much as I was.

It's taken a long time though, slowly increasing my fitness.

Squats and leg strengthening stuff has definitely made my legs stronger and I feel that may also have helped somehow

My cardiologist gave me magnesium and potassium tablets, advised water lemon and salt. These were over the counter.

Plenty of water (but I do anyway, 3L a day), exercise (i do a lot also 18k steps average a day) and for now that's it.

I know my heart is fine as had an echo a year ago and will be doing a stress test next week. Also have low ferritin which he thinks may be the cause but he said it could also be lifestyle.
I'd check ferritin as it lowers bp and cardiologist thinks that's part of my problem. When my grandmother had anemia her bp also dropped extremely low.

what are your BP readings how low is low to you?

Following. Every time I have my BP taken someone comments on it.

At home measurements are usually about 110/55 or 60. It's always the diastolic that's super low for me.

I get all the things - crouch down and stand up in a shop, I have to hold onto a counter and wait for stars to pass!

I am v v fit. Weights, walking, 3L water etc. Mid BMI. My mum has it and so does DD.

I had an operation recently and it was 97/47 a few hours after I came around. But expect everyone's is low after surgery.

I have no idea what my normal BP is as I've never really had to have it checked much other than when I was pregnant (when it was always low) and now for this thing.

Both my sisters have low BP - one had to go in a tilt table in hospital as she kept fainting poor thing but I've never had it that bad.

it says on my form 90 over 55 but they had to do it 3 times to get it 'that high'. I have no idea what it was when it started. I have started eating a bit more salt (crisps) and think I feel a bit better but that's probably psychosomatic and because I like crisps ;)

Ha ha op, yes I use it as an excuse for crisps too!

the best thing i was told is mcdonalds chips tbh

DD is prone to this, I make sure she has plenty of salt and encourage fluids as well as B12 and iron supplements (because she's also pale and eats little meat). I got her compression leggings and tights to help with the lightheadedness when standing, as it helps push the blood back up. She rarely bothers to wear them, but might be worth a try.

I have found compression socks helpful on and off my whole life. Though I'm definitely better with the current regime - probably the salted lemon water tbh

Thanks I have some flight socks

Salted lemon water sounds like something you need to get used to! I will try and make some tomorrow!

Do you wear the socks all the time during the day or just when you're feeling funny?

What does the lemon part do? And doesn't salt in water make you puke?

I had thought about getting some electrolyte tablets like I used to have after training for my half marathons.

I can't wear socks, they make my feet burn hence the over reliance on salty crisps!

Electrolytes? I think you can add a little sugar too.

I barely put any salt in

It runs in our family. from an early age my sister and I were used to my mum fainting left right and centre.
Get up slowly, beware of bending and standing. At Pilates I avoid the toe touching, not because I can't do it.
Mine is more normal now as I have aged (66) but still I get comments whenever I have it taken. In hospital settings it gets lower - almost the opposite of white coat syndrome. I was in hospital for two weeks with covid and nursing staff would get annoyed with me because they didn't think I was drinking, despite me emptying the water jug multiple times.
My DC would keel over as teens from standing up. They are late 20s now and used to it / manage it.