Blood pressure low = fainting

[Sallylouisexo]

My blood pressure is very low and I keep fainting I’m unsure what I can do about this as I don’t want to keep passing out but I can’t seem to control the fainting. Any help?

[Angelinagaffer]

Have you spoken to your GP? Give the doctor a call. You may be low in iron?

[Sallylouisexo in reply to Angelinagaffer]

They say my iron is fine and I take a supplement for that anyway

[Angelinagaffer in reply to Sallylouisexo]

Have you tried elevating your legs? I would still give the GP a call. My son is on home dyalsis, he gets low blood pressure and passes out. He puts his legs up high and eats something. He usually comes round after a couple of minutes. Such a worry .

[Hidden]

How low is very low? Do you drink enough liquid? Can I ask how old you are?

[Sallylouisexo in reply to Hidden]

I don’t know how low as I passed out one time in the doctors and I was just coming around when they measured my blood pressure and asked me if there was a cause that caused me to faint. I’be just turned 18. I drink about 2l of water a day as well.

[Tico]

Hi Sallylouisexo. Do you have an Mpn?

[buddin11]

Definitely see your doctor. My blood pressure was dropping so low when I would stand up, I would pass out. I’m now on a medication that helps to regulate it. If you can, before you stand, drink water and rise slowly. Of course, you may not have what I have, which is orthostatic hypotension. Be careful and keep us updated. Best of luck to you. 🥰

[IrishHiker]

Do you eat much salt? It will help you retain water and bring op your pressure.

[Chaucer89]

I’d be inclined to keep pushing for help and a bit further testing. There is a condition called POTS which can cause frequent fainting, it might be worth ruling out if you are fainting often. In the mean time making sure you are eating regularly, getting up slowly from sitting or laying down etc will help.

[Eadaoin]

Keep a diary of episodes include date, time, how long you had blacked out for and what you were doing at the time. Go back to your GP with your written list of facts. He may decide on further tests.There has to be a medical reason for such frequent fainting. The medical term for fainting is syncope. And it’s a horrible feeling. Best wishes.

[Makalani]

I immediately lie down, placng my lower legs and feet higher than my heart, when my blood pressure drops.

I drink electrolytes daily to avoid dehydration.

Caffeine will temporarily raise your blood pressure, however you need to check with a medical professional about regulating your blood pressure overall.

What if you fall when your blood pressure drops and hit your head on a piece of furniture, a hard floor or ???

Longterm, you could be dehydrated, even with drinking 2L of water every day. Added electrolytes help balance sodium, potassium and chloride in the body.

cedars-sinai.org/blog/elect...

What are Electrolytes?

Oct 16, 2019 Kyle Beswick

electrolytes, salt, sugar, sweat, sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium, fluids, sports drinks

Electrolytes are essential minerals—like sodium, calcium, and potassium—that are vital to many key functions in the body.

They're often talked about in association with dehydration and mentioned in ads for sports drinks that promise to replace electrolytes lost through sweat.

"Sugar, salt, and water help your body absorb fluids, but a lot of sports drinks have too much sugar and not enough electrolytes to really help your body replenish the electrolytes it needs."

But why does your body need them and what's the best way to get them? We asked Cedars-Sinai clinical dietitians Erika Der Sarkissian and Christina Fasulo.

Q: Why are electrolytes important?

Erika Der Sarkissian: They do a lot in the body. They regulate muscle contractions and keep you hydrated. Electrolytes also help balance your pH levels (the measure of acidity and alkalinity).

Christina Fasulo: And they control nervous-system function.

Q: What are some signs of low electrolyte levels?

CF: Fatigue, headache, nausea, blood pressure changes, muscle cramps, low energy, and simply not feeling well.

Read: Heatstroke and Heat Exhaustion: What You Need to Know

Q: How do we lose electrolytes?

EDS: We mostly lose electrolytes through sweat and urine.

CF: Also vomiting and diarrhea.

Q: How do we get electrolytes in our bodies?

CF: For the average American, you can get all the electrolytes you need through a nutritious diet—especially when eating healthy, whole foods.

Q: Aren't sports drinks known for providing electrolytes?

EDS: Yes, but sports drinks can also have a lot of sugar and food coloring added, and they may not be necessary for a person who is not engaging in intense exercise (longer than 1 hour).

CF: Sugar, salts, and water help your body absorb fluids, but a lot of sports drinks have too much sugar and not enough electrolytes to really help your body replenish the electrolytes it needs.

After a workout, if you sweat heavily and you see a white chalk on your clothing, then you're likely losing a lot of salt. In those instances, or if you're exercising in a humid, hot area, or working out for an extended length of time, then you might benefit from an electrolyte-replacement drink.

If you're doing an easy-to-moderate exercise for an hour, then you're fine drinking water.

People think that muscle cramps come from magnesium and potassium deficiencies, when most of the time it's from losing salt through sweat. Instead of just eating bananas when you're cramping, try getting sodium in your body.

Q: Are there electrolytes when you get an IV?

EDS: Electrolytes can be added to IVs, which can help patients with alcohol abuse or other conditions that cause electrolyte deficiency.

Q: How else does drinking alcohol affect our electrolyte levels?

EDS: Alcohol is dehydrating in multiple ways.

It's a diuretic, which means it makes you pee more than usual. It does this by suppressing a hormone (called antidiuretic hormone or ADH) that usually helps your body hold onto water and electrolytes instead of losing them through urine.

Also, you're probably not drinking water while you're out drinking alcohol, and you may lose even more water and electrolytes if you experience vomiting or diarrhea.

Dehydration may also play a role in a lot of common hangover symptoms, like headache, fatigue, and weakness.

Drinking lots of water with electrolyte tablets or coconut water with salt added should help when you've overdone it at the bar.

[Minu68]

I've a friend with low blood pressure who always carries a packet of salted crisps with her, on medical advice she says, to eat when she feels any sign of faintness. That's all I can offer, I hope you find a way to manage, and get it investigated, sounds awful! Poor you!!