Treatment for Low Blood Pressure - How to Raise Blood Pressure

The human heart constantly pumps blood into the rest of the body. The muscles of the heart contract, increasing the pressure of the blood to flow into the blood vessels. This is called the systolic (high) blood pressure. When the heart relaxes after contracting, the pressure also decreases leading to diastolic (low) blood pressure. The normal blood pressure in a person should be 120/80 mmHg. When the blood pressure level becomes lower than this, it is said that the person has low BP. Many people may have hypotension, but this is not always considered to be dangerous to their health. When people experience certain hypotension symptoms, only then they are diagnosed with low BP and are given treatment to raise the blood pressure.

Causes
Before knowing how to raise BP, it is important to understand the causes of blood pressure. This is necessary because the cure usually depends on the reason for occurrence of a problem. Low pressure can occur in a person due to dehydration, mild or severe bleeding, or due to inflammation in the organs of the body like acute pancreatitis. Certain heart diseases like weakness in the muscles of the heart, slow heart rate, etc. can also lead to a low-level of blood pressure. Even intake of certain medications can give rise to this condition.

Symptoms
When the blood pressure level in the person decreases, it is likely for the person to feel dizzy or lightheaded. There have also been cases where the person has fainted because of low pressure. Sometimes, a person feels dizzy when he or she gets up from a sitting or lying position. This is called orthostatic hypotension. There have also been cases where people have experienced cardiac arrest due to low BP. Other symptoms include fatigue, sleep disorders, anxiety, cold hands, blurred vision, etc.

Recommended Treatment
A person who is diagnosed with this problem would be given certain medications to keep the blood pressure at a normal level. He or she would also be advised with some immediate measures to ensure recovery.

• If one is experiencing dizziness due to dehydration, it is very important to rehydrate oneself by drinking lots of water or a sports drink. This will help to higher the blood pressure level.
• If a person has not eaten any food for a long period of time, there are high chances for him or her to feel dizzy. In this case, the solution is to eat something immediately. Even a piece of sandwich or fruit can make one feel better.
• If you feel dizzy while getting up from a resting position, the best thing you can do is return to that position and remain in the same way till the feeling passes. People suffering from orthostatic hypotension should always get up slowly from their resting position.
• People who are diagnosed with hypotension are advised to increase the intake of salt in their food. However, as too much of salt is not good for the heart, it should not exceed certain limit.
• People who suffer this problem due to blood loss should be taken to the hospital immediately where they would treated with blood transfusions and intravenous fluids. If the condition arises because of some medications, the doctor would advise to decrease the dosage of that drug.
• Doctors may also recommend certain drugs like fludrocortisone, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, pyridostigmine, erythropoietin, caffeine, etc.

People who are diagnosed with this problem are advised not to consume alcohol and should avoid going out in the sun. Before taking any medications for low BP, it is always essential to consult the doctor.