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What should I drink if my blood pressure is down?

A health care provider also might recommend drinking one or two strong cups of caffeinated coffee or tea with breakfast. Caffeine can cause dehydration, however, so be sure to drink plenty of water and other fluids without caffeine.

mayoclinic.org - Low blood pressure (hypotension) - Diagnosis and treatment - Mayo Clinic

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Diagnosis

To diagnose low blood pressure (hypotension), your health care provider will do a physical exam and ask questions about your medical history. The exam includes measuring blood pressure.

Tests

Tilt table test Open pop-up dialog box Close Tilt table test Tilt table test Someone having a tilt table test begins by lying flat on a table. Straps hold the person in place. After lying flat for a while, the table is tilted to a position that mimics standing. The health care provider watches how the heart and the nervous system that controls it respond to the changes in position. Other tests may be done to determine the cause of low blood pressure. Blood tests. Blood tests can help diagnose low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), high blood sugar (hyperglycemia or diabetes) or a low red blood cell count (anemia), all of which can lower blood pressure. Blood tests can help diagnose low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), high blood sugar (hyperglycemia or diabetes) or a low red blood cell count (anemia), all of which can lower blood pressure. Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). This quick and painless test measures the electrical activity of the heart. During an ECG , sensors (electrodes) are attached to the chest and sometimes to the arms or legs. Wires attached to the sensors connect to a machine that displays or prints out results. An ECG shows how fast or slow the heart is beating. It can be used to diagnose a current or previous heart attack. This quick and painless test measures the electrical activity of the heart. During an , sensors (electrodes) are attached to the chest and sometimes to the arms or legs. Wires attached to the sensors connect to a machine that displays or prints out results. An shows how fast or slow the heart is beating. It can be used to diagnose a current or previous heart attack. Tilt table test. A tilt table test can evaluate how the body reacts to changes in position. The test involves lying on a table that's tilted to raise the upper part of the body, which mimics the movement from horizontal to a standing position. Straps hold the body in place. Heart rate and blood pressure are monitored during the test.

Treatment

Support stockings Open pop-up dialog box Close Support stockings Support stockings Compression stockings, also called support stockings, press on the legs, improving blood flow. A stocking butler may help with putting on the stockings. Low blood pressure (hypotension) without symptoms or with only mild symptoms rarely requires treatment. If low blood pressure is causing symptoms, the treatment depends on the cause. For instance, if medication causes low blood pressure, your health care provider may recommend changing or stopping the medication or lowering the dose. Don't change or stop taking your medication without first talking to your care provider. If it's not clear what's causing low blood pressure or no treatment exists, the goal is to raise blood pressure and reduce symptoms. Depending on age, health and the type of low blood pressure, there are several ways to do this: Use more salt. Experts usually recommend limiting salt (sodium) because it can raise blood pressure, sometimes dramatically. For people with low blood pressure, however, that can be a good thing. But too much sodium can lead to heart failure, especially in older adults. So it's important to check with a health care provider before increasing salt.

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Experts usually recommend limiting salt (sodium) because it can raise blood pressure, sometimes dramatically. For people with low blood pressure, however, that can be a good thing. But too much sodium can lead to heart failure, especially in older adults. So it's important to check with a health care provider before increasing salt. Drink more water. Fluids increase blood volume and help prevent dehydration, both of which are important in treating hypotension. Fluids increase blood volume and help prevent dehydration, both of which are important in treating hypotension. Wear compression stockings. Also called support stockings, these elastic stockings are commonly used to relieve the pain and swelling of varicose veins. They improve blood flow from the legs to the heart. Some people tolerate elastic abdominal binders better than they do compression stockings. Also called support stockings, these elastic stockings are commonly used to relieve the pain and swelling of varicose veins. They improve blood flow from the legs to the heart. Some people tolerate elastic abdominal binders better than they do compression stockings. Medications. Several drugs are available to treat low blood pressure that occurs when standing up (orthostatic hypotension). For example, the drug fludrocortisone boosts blood volume. It's often used to treat orthostatic hypotension. If you have long-term (chronic) orthostatic hypotension, midodrine (Orvaten) may be prescribed to raise standing blood pressure levels. This drug reduces the ability of the blood vessels to expand, which raises blood pressure. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form. From Mayo Clinic to your inbox Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertise on managing health. Email ErrorEmail field is required ErrorInclude a valid email address Learn more about Mayo Clinic’s use of data. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Subscribe! Thank you for subscribing! You'll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox. Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry

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Lifestyle and home remedies

Depending on the reason for low blood pressure, the following steps might help reduce or prevent symptoms. Drink more water, less alcohol. Alcohol is dehydrating and can lower blood pressure, even if drinking in moderation. Water increases the amount of blood in the body and prevents dehydration. Alcohol is dehydrating and can lower blood pressure, even if drinking in moderation. Water increases the amount of blood in the body and prevents dehydration. Pay attention to body positions. Gently move from lying flat or squatting to a standing position. Don't sit with legs crossed. If symptoms of low blood pressure begin while standing, cross the thighs like a pair of scissors and squeeze. Or put one foot on a ledge or chair and lean as far forward as possible. These moves encourage blood flow from the legs to the heart. Eat small, low-carb meals. To help prevent blood pressure from dropping sharply after meals, eat small meals several times a day. Limit high-carbohydrate foods such as potatoes, rice, pasta and bread. A health care provider also might recommend drinking one or two strong cups of caffeinated coffee or tea with breakfast. Caffeine can cause dehydration, however, so be sure to drink plenty of water and other fluids without caffeine. Exercise regularly. As a general goal, aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity every day. Avoid exercising in hot, humid conditions.

Preparing for your appointment

No special preparations are necessary to have your blood pressure checked. Don't stop taking medications you think might affect your blood pressure without a health care provider's advice.

Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment.

What you can do

Make a list of:

Symptoms, including any that seem unrelated to low blood pressure, and when they occur including any that seem unrelated to low blood pressure, and when they occur Key personal information, including a family history of low blood pressure and major stresses or recent life changes including a family history of low blood pressure and major stresses or recent life changes All medications, vitamins or other supplements you take, including doses vitamins or other supplements you take, including doses Questions to ask your provider