A low diastolic blood pressure is a condition known as hypotension. When low blood pressure has no symptoms, or causes only mild symptoms such as brief episodes of dizziness, treatment is rarely a necessity, according to MayoClinic.com. It becomes a concern when you begin fainting or suffer from shock, as the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute explains. Treatment for hypotension depends on the cause and type of hypotension you have.
Step 1
Salt. Add more salt to your diet. Salt makes the body retain fluid, which increases your blood volume. The more blood in your body, the higher your blood pressure. Speak with your doctor prior to increasing your salt intake, as too much sodium can lead to heart failure, MayoClinic.com explains.
Step 2
Drink more water. Increasing your fluids also increases your blood volume, according to MayoClinic.com. Drinking enough water also guards against dehydration, one of the major causes of orthostatic hypotension, a type of hypotension occurring from a sudden change in body position.
Step 3
Ask your doctor about medications to raise your blood pressure. Medications are available to raise diastolic blood pressure, just as some medications lower blood pressure when it is too high. When you have orthostatic hypotension, your doctor can prescribe a number of drugs, either alone or in combination, to increase your blood volume. Some also inhibit the ability of blood vessels to expand, making it more difficult for blood to flow through them. This increases blood pressure as well.
Step 4
Reduce or eliminate your alcohol consumption. MayoClinic.com explains that alcohol may dehydrate you, which can lead to a reduction in blood volume and a low blood pressure. To combat this and increase your pressure, reduce or completely eliminate your alcohol consumption.
Step 5
Eat small, low-carb meals. Both the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute and MayoClinic.com agree that eating small, low-carb meals can increase your diastolic blood pressure. High-carb foods like potatoes, rice and pasta cause a sharp drop in blood pressure after eating, which is why low-carb foods are beneficial.
Tips and Warnings
- Sit and place your head between your knees when symptoms of hypotension strike, as doing this can increase your blood pressure quickly, explains The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. This can prevent you from fainting when your blood pressure drops.
Things You'll Need
- Water
- Salt
