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Lifestyle and home remedies
By Mayo Clinic staffThere are many simple steps to managing or preventing orthostatic hypotension. Some suggestions your doctor may have include:
- More salt in your diet. This must be done with care, and only after discussing it with your doctor. Too much salt can cause your blood pressure to increase beyond a healthy level, creating new health risks.
- Get plenty of fluids. Keeping hydrated helps prevent symptoms of low blood pressure. But, avoid or limit the amount of alcohol you drink, because alcohol can worsen orthostatic hypotension.
- Exercise. Exercise your calf muscles before sitting up. Also, when getting out of bed, sit on the edge of your bed for a minute before standing.
- Avoid bending at the waist. If you drop something on the floor, squat with your knees to recover it.
- Wear compression stockings. These may help reduce the pooling of blood in your legs, thus reducing the symptoms of orthostatic hypotension.
- Go slow. You may be able to reduce the dizziness and lightheadedness that occur with orthostatic hypotension by taking it easy when you move from a prone to a standing position. Instead of jumping out of bed in the morning, breathe deeply for a few minutes and then slowly sit up before standing.
- Sleep position. Sleeping with the head of your bed slightly elevated can help fight the effects of gravity.
- Leg movements. If you begin to get symptoms while standing, cross your thighs in a scissors fashion and squeeze or put one foot on a ledge or chair and lean as far forward as possible. These maneuvers encourage blood to flow from your legs to your heart.
References
- Orthostatic hypotension. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/print/sec07/ch069/ch069d.html. Accessed May 13, 2011.
- Hypotension. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/hyp/hyp_all.html. Accessed May 13, 2011.
- Kaufmann H, et al. Mechanisms, causes, and evaluation of orthostatic and postprandial hypotension. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 13, 2011.
- Low blood pressure. The American Heart Association. http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HighBloodPressure...re_UCM_301785_Article.jsp. Accessed May 13, 2011.
- Bradley JG, et al. Orthostatic hypotension. American Family Physician. 2003;68:2393.
- Low PA, et al. Management of neurogenic orthostatic hypotension: An update. Lancet Neurology. 2008;7:451.
- Kaufmann H, et al. Treatment of orthostatic and postprandial hypotension. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 13, 2011.
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