When you hear the words "blood pressure," you may think of high blood pressure, or hypertension. This condition, if left untreated, can lead to complications such as heart attack and stroke. The opposite blood pressure condition, low blood pressure, or hypotension, has its own set of problems. The complications you experience depend on the cause of this medical issue.
Low Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is the measurement of the pressure of blood against your artery walls both during a heartbeat and while your heart is resting, explains MayoClinic.com. Low blood pressure is the goal for many, as high blood pressure can result in heart attack and stroke. However, low blood pressure can be just as dangerous, depending on the underlying cause. The causes can range from dehydration to life-threatening allergic reactions. Another possible cause is eating, which doctors call postprandial hypotension.
Postprandial Hypotension
There is more than one type of low blood pressure, postprandial hypotension being one of them. Harvard Medical School breaks down the complexity of the digestion process, explaining the required coordination between your digestive, circulatory and nervous systems. Your stomach and small intestine require blood to digest the food you eat. To compensate for extra blood, your heart beats faster as your blood vessels become smaller. Postprandial hypotension results when your heart and blood vessels do not react as they should during this process.
Symptoms and Causes
The most common symptoms of postprandial hypotension are dizziness, fainting and falling, but you may also experience chest pain, nausea and vision problems. The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute states this condition primarily affects older people because an older body is unable to manage changes in blood pressure as well as a younger body. It tends to affect those with high blood pressure, or disorders of the nervous system, such as Parkinsons disease. Additional risks include heart conditions such as heart attack or low heart rate, anemia, low blood sugar and diabetes.
Treatment
Harvard Medical School recommends eating smaller, more frequent meals through the day. Large meals have a tendency to trigger postprandial hypotension. Eating carbohydrates high in sugar, such as white bread and rice, potatoes or pasta, can result in low blood pressure. High sugar beverages can do the same. These items digest quickly, causing a rapid fluctuation in blood pressure. Drinking 12 oz. to 18 oz of water 15 minutes before each meal helps to prevent dehydration.
