Your blood pressure

Do you understand your own blood pressure. If like me you suffer from LOW blood pressure as opposed to HIGH blood pressure, it is really difficult to get any information on how you can tackle it. I was once advised by a doctor that it was OK to do all the those things that were forbidden if I suffered from HIGH blood pressure. Really? I gave that a little thought, and decided that if my blood pressure was naturally LOW, then to take steps to increase to normal, could possibly have the same effect as if I were suffering from HIGH blood pressure. Very confusing.

So what is there to be done? Here are a few symptoms that I can expect as a sufferer of LOW blood pressure:

Dizzy spells (even when relaxing or preparing to sleep)

This is perhaps the worst sympton as it can overcome you when you least expect it. You won't necessarily faint, but it is rather unpleasant. This is normally a sign for me, that my blood pressure is lower than it's normal LOW.

Tired and listless

This can really get in the way of you having a normal and otherwise happier time of things. Again you will not always see it as a sign that your pressure has gone down just a little too far.

Heart Arrythmia

Small flutterings in your chest can sometimes be quite normal for us folk, but for me it's a good sign that I haven't been looking after myself. Oh, and don't expect a pulpitation to occur when you have put your body under any stress. They can often occur when you feel perfectly rested.

Depression

I'll call it depression, but it's more like an inability to speak or to want to speak. To sleep rather than to get up, out and do.

Cold

I get a terrible sense of being cold, and all I want to do is wrap up warm, sleep and do nothing.

What can you do?

Well first of all, get yourself a blood pressure monitor. That's how you'll find what your normal range is. Anything below or above your norm will require that you do something about it. Personally I wander between the 70 and 90's and have once or twice dropped below that. Let's see if we can avoid that happening to you (and me again :)).

Eat something often

just a small snack like an apple, some cheese, a few nuts. You'll be surprised just how often us LOW blood pressure sufferers actually need to eat - it's often. At least every 1 1/2 to 2 hours for me. I generally take a coffee (which of course would be forbidden to any HIGH blood pressure sufferer - not so us), so it's a coffee and a cookie or two for me. I can keep going all day like that.

Obviously if you are outside of your natural habitat, say like a family visit, on holiday, travelling, you will have to prepare. Don't avoid it (like I often do) and get stressed about where your next snack might come from. Take snacks with you. One of Enzo's Power bars, dried banana and nuts are great. It looks odd that you're nibbling all day to some people, but hey, you've gotta do what you've gotta do.

Get out

Get your body out and walking in the sunshine and fresh air!! Regenerate your blood cells with fresh oxygen! It seems to work for me.

Excerise

I know, I know. You don't want to hear it, but really a simple walk could just do the job. A little often is key unless you can take more. But excerise is really important, the more rested you become, the worse you will feel - eventually.

Salt, salt, salt!!

I sometimes get a craving for salt. This is my body telling me that it needs it. Make sure you're getting enough, but don't over do it.

More water

Take in water as often as you can. Sipping here and there is good. And remember if you're not one for drinking water in the raw, water comes in many forms - even a nice cup of tea.

Iron

You may need to look at your iron intake and if necessary take a supplement. But any food that is green is perfect food for us. I love broccoli, asparagus, kale, broccoli rabe, spinach and even seaweed thankfully, but it may not be for you. Have a word with your doctor - you have to be a little careful about those iron supplements.

Take your own blood pressure

Blood pressure machines of all shapes and sizes are available out there, so treat yourself to one.  You will then be able to recognise the signs that your body is going into blood pressure stress and have a better chance of diagnosing yourself and analysing what it is that you have to do.

Remember

Everyone elses NORMAL blood pressure reading could be uncomfortable for us LOW pressure peeps.

My mum, who is also a sufferer once told me that LOW blood pressure is a silent killer, and when you are feeling dizzy and unable to cope, believe me you really do feel like giving up! But remember, even though there is not a great deal of information out there for us, you are not alone.

Oh, and by the way, if you want a name for it, it's called HYPOTENSION and NEURALLY MEDIATED HYPOTENTION.

Well I hope this has helped, I'm off to make myself some tiny little savoury biscuits covered in Danish Bleu with a drop of lemon curd. YUMMY!

Further reading

Diagnosis

Low Blood Pressure