Minor complications such as blurred vision or feeling faint might not ring warning bells when they occur in isolation, but a combination of these symptoms is alarming. These symptoms include blurred vision, light-headedness, and weakness—symptoms that point toward a drop in blood pressure. Many people also feel dizzy and drained when they have low blood pressure. When allowed to go unchecked, these symptoms can spiral into something larger and worse, such as cardiac arrest.

What Causes the Drop in Blood Pressure?

Low blood pressure, or hypotension, can be caused by dehydration, hot climate, fear, stress, or anything that causes a reduction of blood volume. Whatever its causes, low blood pressure is never a good thing, and can lead to severe complications such as a stroke, kidney failure, shock, and heart attacks.

There are remedies that can be tried at home and without clinical assistance if you or a family member faces a drop in their blood pressure. Before trying out these remedies, make sure you verify that your blood pressure is low; use a sphygmomanometer to double-check.

1. Increase Salt Intake

We know that low sodium diets are part of a “trend” these days, but they aren’t necessarily good news for everyone—especially not for people with low blood pressure. You should increase your sodium intake if you’ve been observing blood pressure lower than usual.

2. Avoid Alcohol

Alcohol causes drops in blood pressure, which is why you should avoid consuming it.

3. Cross Legs

Studies have proved that crossing legs while sitting can cause your blood pressure to increase. Hypertensive patients—those who have uncharacteristically high blood pressure—are instructed to avoid crossing their legs since it increases systolic and diastolic blood pressures.

4. Small Meals

Instead of eating 3 big meals throughout the day, switch to eating smaller, but more frequent portions. When you’re taking meals more frequently, you’re replenishing the body’s salt and water stores regularly.

5. Do Not Change Positions Suddenly

In other words, move slowly. Don’t sit or stand up very quickly, as these sudden movements can cause dizziness or lightheadedness, and even cause you to faint. The heart needs some time to pump enough blood to all parts of your body, but people with low blood pressure can’t have this blood pumped quickly enough. As a result, sudden changes can be very problematic.

Start a First Aid Training Course

Although home remedies are helpful and can provide quick relief, there’s so much that we don’t know about these things. Knowing how to respond to emergencies—such as fainting or a minor cardiac arrest due to low blood pressure—is not something we’re adequately trained for.

Start by enlisting yourself in a First Aid Training Course to live a safer, better life. Give Metro Safety a call at 604-521-4227 to know more. The school provides training in Surrey, Vancouver, and Richmond.