Causes of Fluctuating Blood Pressure

The heart pumps blood that gets circulated to all the parts of the body. Due to the pumping of the heart, the blood exerts certain amount of pressure on the walls of the blood vessels. This pressure is termed as blood pressure. Systolic and diastolic are two different forms of blood pressure. Systolic pressure is the one which develops when the heart beats. Diastolic pressure is the one when the heart is at rest in between two beats. Several factors like diet, physical activity and sleeping patterns influence the blood pressure. Usually, stress and anxiety are the two main causes of fluctuating blood pressure. It has been found that seventy percent of people cannot keep their blood pressure normal as they fail to mange their level of stress.

Main Causes of Fluctuating Blood Pressure

Blood pressure fluctuation may not be a cause of fear if it happens once in a while. If there is about 25 to 30 percent of fluctuation in blood pressure, in one single day, it signifies that all the metabolic functions of the body are being carried out normally. If it becomes chronic, only then it is a matter of concern. Something must be going wrong in the process of blood circulation in your body.

Fluctuating blood pressure has two different modes. In one, the pressure goes up and in the other it goes down. The cause behind the blood pressure going up is hypertension or high blood pressure. If the fluctuation of blood pressure is to the higher side, it means that the heart is taking extra efforts to pump the blood. This happens due to some heart diseases or hormonal problem or kidney diseases. When the blood pressure is fluctuating towards the lower side or in low blood pressure condition, it could be due to low blood volume or the heart is unable to beat fast for any other reason. Here, the symptoms are weakness, dizziness particularly when one stands up, or sense of lightheadedness.

There are non-medical reasons that can cause fluctuating blood pressure. Physical activity like running or a tensed situations could be the causes of blood fluctuation. In this condition, if you take some rest, it will become normal. Sometimes, it also may happen that the monitor used for checking is not accurate.

Symptoms of Fluctuating Blood Pressure

During the initial stage, fluctuating blood pressure does not show any symptoms, therefore, the chance of detection is less. Later, the common symptoms that are observed include headache, restlessness and vertigo. If you monitor your blood pressure at home and you find it fluctuating, then start taking the reading at least thrice a day at three different times. When you find it fluctuating continuously, then you should consult your physician to find out fluctuating blood pressure causes. The doctors first identify the underlying causes of fluctuation and then start the treatment. They prescribe medicines to stabilize the blood pressure. If a person's blood pressure is fluctuating above the normal level, then doctors often advise following a diet that is low in sodium and high fiber content.

To prevent the blood pressure fluctuation from turning serious, one should monitor the pressure readings regularly. Fluctuating blood pressure, when left untreated, may lead to more serious conditions like heart disease, renal failure and other serious complications.