How to Increase Blood Pressure

You can increase your blood pressure by using basic first aid techniques to alleviate the issue. If you're the patient, you can take steps to feel better on your own. If you're a caregiver, your knowledge can help guide the patient through a critical situation. Some medical knowledge is very useful and necessary, especially when the condition seems dangerous. However, in more serious situations, some of the methods below can help while waiting for medical professionals to arrive.

Assess the situation. If this happens frequently, it could be a chronic condition. First, consider the patient's overall health. Is this a result of an illness? Is something unusual happening that’s causing a drop in blood sugar? Also, stay calm. It may not be as serious as it seems.

• You will need to determine whether the symptoms suggest dangerously low blood pressure. Common symptoms include dizziness, headache, lightheadedness, blurred vision, weakness, fatigue, nausea, cold skin, fainting, and pale skin.

Prepare a cup of hot black tea. Boil water and steep the tea bag for 5-7 minutes to extract the fullest flavor. Add 1 teaspoon (4g) of sugar to enhance the blood pressure-raising effect. Your blood pressure will rise within 45 minutes after drinking the tea.

Encourage the patient to drink plenty of fluids. Increasing blood volume and preventing dehydration will help eliminate the symptoms of low blood pressure. Sports drinks containing electrolytes will replenish lost minerals in the body. Drink sports drinks or water to avoid dehydration.

• Another temporary method to raise blood pressure is consuming caffeine. While scientists aren't entirely certain how or why it works, it’s believed that caffeine either blocks hormones that dilate blood vessels or increases adrenaline levels, which leads to higher blood pressure.

Have the patient eat something salty. Excess salt can help raise blood pressure. This is why individuals with heart conditions often follow a low-sodium diet.

• Sodium is known to increase blood pressure (sometimes excessively), which is why doctors usually recommend reducing sodium intake. Consult with a doctor before increasing your sodium intake—excessive consumption can lead to heart failure (particularly in older adults).

Consider the circulatory needs related to blood pressure. Raise the legs and place them on compression stockings (if available). These stockings, commonly used to reduce varicose veins, help reduce blood pooling in the legs.

Check if the patient has forgotten to take any essential medication. This can easily happen if the patient doesn't follow the doctor's orders. Many medications can either raise or lower blood pressure, even as side effects. Some medications may also have a more potent effect when taken together than when taken alone.

Give the patient the medication they missed. Make sure they (or if it’s yourself) understand the importance of taking the correct dose at the right time. And avoid overdosing!

• In addition to regular medication, it’s important to note that acetaminophen (Tylenol), some anti-inflammatory drugs, and antidepressants can also cause a sudden increase in blood pressure. If you have these medications available, consider using them in case of low blood pressure.

Move your limbs a few times before standing up. Even healthy individuals can experience a drop in blood pressure when standing after sitting for a long time. When preparing to stand (especially after waking up), sit up straight first, then rise slowly.

• If possible, engage in regular exercise to improve blood circulation. If this is a chronic issue, remain consistent with your exercise and eat smaller, more frequent meals.

Contact the patient's doctor if blood pressure readings reach dangerous levels. In this situation, nothing can replace the advice of a medical professional.

• Clearly explain the low blood pressure situation to the doctor. If the patient is able to speak, let them describe the symptoms as specifically as possible.
• Follow the doctor's advice carefully. In cases where blood pressure falls to dangerous levels, the doctor may advise the patient to go to the emergency room.

Measure the blood pressure, if possible, once the crisis has passed. If blood pressure remains too low, you may need to seek higher-level medical care. Blood pressure slightly below 120/80 is considered ideal.

Evaluate the patient and recheck their blood pressure after an hour to determine whether the patient is out of danger. Are there any symptoms remaining? How do they feel? Continue to provide fluids even if they’re not thirsty.