Low blood pressure can cause dizziness, fainting, and other symptoms. Lifestyle changes, such as drinking plenty of fluids, wearing compression stockings, and eating more salt, may help raise blood pressure.

In some situations, natural solutions can raise low blood pressure and relieve some of the symptoms that accompany it.

In other cases, intervention in the form of medications and therapies may be necessary to raise blood pressure to a healthy level.

This article explains low blood pressure, natural ways to raise it, how to recognize low blood pressure, and when to speak with a doctor.

Someone with low blood pressure drinking water from a flask.-2Share on Pinterest
Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images

Healthcare professionals measure blood pressure using millimeters of mercury (mmHg). Low blood pressure or hypotension is any reading lower than 90 mmHg over 60 mmHgTrusted Source.

However, most doctorsTrusted Source will only describe low blood pressure as a problem if a person has the symptoms.

Low blood pressure is not a concern if there are no symptoms present. However, when low blood pressure causes symptoms, it can be a sign that not enough blood is getting to the organs.

If this happens for too long, it can cause serious consequences, including:

Many peopleTrusted Source with low blood pressure do not need medications or other medical interventions to raise blood pressure.

Healthcare professionals may suggest natural ways and lifestyle changes to raise low blood pressure, including the following.

1. Eat more salt

While too much salt can increaseTrusted Source the risk of high blood pressure, those with low blood pressure may benefit from eating more of it, particularly if their intake is low.

A doctor may suggest increasing sodium intake moderately to help raise blood pressure. A healthcare professional can help someone ensure they are getting the right amount.

Some salty foods that may help with this include:

  • olives
  • pickles
  • canned soup
  • soy sauce
  • condiments, such as mustard or ketchup

However, people should be careful not to consume too much. People can check food packaging labels to monitor how much salt they consume.

2. Avoid alcoholic beverages

Alcohol can lower blood pressure up to 12 hoursTrusted Source after consumption, so people with low blood pressure should avoid drinking excessive amounts of alcohol.

3. Discuss medications with a doctor

Low blood pressure can beTrusted Source a side effect of a variety of medications, including:

If symptoms of low blood pressure begin after starting a new medication, people should discuss the symptoms with their doctor.

4. Cross legs while sitting

Crossing the legs while sitting can increaseTrusted Source blood pressure. For people with high blood pressure, this can be a problem.

For people with low blood pressure symptoms, crossing the legs may help increase blood pressure with minimal effort.

5. Drink water

Drinking more water can helpTrusted Source increase blood volume, which can alleviate one of the potential causes of low blood pressure. It can also help people avoid dehydration.

6. Eat small meals frequently

Eating smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day may help with low blood pressure.

This is because the smaller meals help prevent a drop in blood pressure associated with eating larger, heavier meals.

7. Wear compression stockings

Compression stockings help reduce the amount of blood that gets caught in the lower legs and feet, shifting it elsewhere.

Compression stockings may also help relieve pressure and pain that occurs with varicose veins.

8. Avoid sudden position changes

Sitting or standing up rapidly can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure. This may lead to feelings of lightheadedness, dizziness, or potential fainting in people with low blood pressure.

Healthcare professionals referTrusted Source to this drop in blood pressure as postural hypotension or orthostatic hypotension.

In these cases, the heart has not pumped enough blood through the body quickly enough to account for the sudden change in position or elevation. Getting up more slowly may help.

9. Raise the head when sleeping

Sleeping with extra pillows or elevating the head of the bed by around 20 centimetersTrusted Source may help reduce symptoms of orthostatic hypotension in the daytime.

10. Lower shower temperatures

Taking hot showers and baths or being in a hot environment may worsenTrusted Source the symptoms of orthostatic hypotension for some people.

11. Lower body strength training

A 2022 articleTrusted Source suggests that lower body strength training and moderate exercise may benefit people with orthostatic hypotension by increasing plasma volume.

Exercises that strengthen the lower body include:

  • rowing
  • cycling
  • hiking
  • swimming

If exercising standing up is difficult, people can also try exercises while lying down or recumbent bikes.

12. Eat a balanced diet

If someone has low blood pressure due to nutritional deficiencies, changing the diet to address those deficiencies may help to increase their blood pressure.

For example, deficiencies in folate and vitamin B12 can causeTrusted Source anemia, which may contribute to low blood pressure levels.

13. Be aware of symptoms

Low blood pressure is only a concern if symptoms exist. If there are no symptoms present, doctors may take low blood pressure as a sign of good health.

But if symptoms do occur, such as dizziness, they should speak with a doctor about the underlying cause.

There are a number of potential causes of low blood pressure. In some cases, treating the cause may help to reduce symptoms.

Some of the most commonTrusted Source causes include:

However, low blood pressure can indicate good health if a person is not experiencing any symptoms.

Some people with low blood pressure have no symptoms. In these people, low blood pressure is generally not dangerous or concerning.

However, even showing one or two symptoms may signal a problem. Low blood pressure can cause the following:

Some people may have symptoms of low blood pressure only when standing. Usually, this is not dangerous unless positional changes cause a person’s blood pressure to drop rapidly, which may lead to fainting.

Symptoms of shock

In more extreme cases, low blood pressure may lead to shock. Shock is a serious medical emergency caused by reduced blood flow throughout the body. It can damage the organs at a cellular level.

The symptoms of shock include the following:

People experiencing symptoms of shock need urgent medical attention.

Anyone experiencing symptoms that could indicate low blood pressure should speak with a doctor.

Experiencing symptoms of low blood pressure can also indicate an underlying condition that may require diagnosis and treatment.

Anyone experiencing signs and symptoms of shock needs to seek immediate medical attention.

People who do not respond well to natural solutions for low blood pressure may want to ask their doctor about medications that help raise blood pressure levels.

A person may alsoTrusted Source want to consider:

  • not lifting heavy objects
  • not standing in one place for a long time
  • avoiding prolonged exposure to hot temperatures
  • drinking more fluids when exercising or on hot days

Low blood pressure is often asymptomatic and is not usually something to worry about. However, some people may need to take steps to increase their blood pressure.

People can eat more salt, address nutritional deficiencies, reduce alcohol consumption, and drink more water.

A healthcare professional can help to diagnose and treat any underlying health conditions that may be causing low blood pressure.