low blood pressure

[channlluv]

I've had high blood pressure for a couple of years now and when I finally realized I needed to go on medication to control it, I was also just getting into the longer bike rides. My doctor and I tried out several medications and dosages to try to find what worked best -- this took months to work through -- and during that time, I figured out the days that I went on long bike rides, my blood pressure was much lower than on days that I didn't ride. I had to buy a digital blood pressure cuff to monitor my pressure at home every day, sometimes two or three readings a day.

Those really low days, I was having the same symptoms as you, nearly blacking out when I'd stand up. Everything would go a bit yellow and fuzzy for several seconds until it regulated itself.

My doctor told me at one point that on the days I planned a long ride, not to take my meds. That worked for a bit. We finally hit on a good dosage for me and now my blood pressure is in the same range as yours, 100/60.

There are others here who can tell you the particulars, but low blood pressure is just as dangerous as high blood pressure. At least, that's what I understood from conversations with my doctor.

I really think you should check this out with your doctor before it goes on too long to repair whatever damage might be happening.

Roxy

[skhill]

My blood pressure is normally quite low too. Last time I donated blood, the first reading was 90/48 (but we got 94/52 on the second try, high enough to donate). The lightheaded/ nearly fainting thing happens to me occasionally, but I'm almost positive it's related to hydration.

[redrhodie]

lph, I remember from a thread a while back that you use an inversion table. Are you still using it? I would think that would help.

[lph]

Unfortunately the inversion table got packed away (dang, your memory's good! ) when my workplace moved to where we are now, but I'll try to find it once we move back to our antiquated office building, hopefully all redone, next spring.

I will ask my doc too, next time I see her.

[redrhodie]

(dang, your memory's good! )

I've been contemplating getting one ever since then.

Would you say that the blackouts are more or less frequent, or the same as when you inverted?

[bunny_ninja]

What is your resting pulse rate?

That could be a factor... unfortunately.

just don't overdo the increased water consumption. I'd just follow the standard formula for ounces, activity, and body composition + a liter.

You might also increase your electrolyte intake.

[Kano]

[QUOTE=bunny_ninja;515800
just don't overdo the increased water consumption. I'd just follow the standard formula for ounces, activity, and body composition + a liter.

You might also increase your electrolyte intake.[/QUOTE]

My blood pressure seems to be lower in summer, when I'm active outdoors in the hot weather. Staying hydrated helped, but it was electrolytes that truly made a difference for me. I had a whole lot less problem with the dizzy thing. At least the physical kind of dizzy!

I did talk with my doctor about my numbers -- she said no problem!

Karen in Boise

[nscrbug]

Don't know how I missed this thread when it was originally started, but...I too, run on the low side with BP. Usually low 100's/60, but my last doctor visit last month I was 104/47...which is the lowest that I can recall for me. My doctors never seem to be too concerned about it. Back in February, when I had a colonoscopy...I kept setting off the alarm on the heart monitor machine because my HR kept dipping below 39... It freaked out the nurses at first, but then they just increased the alarm threshold so that I wouldn't keep setting the darn thing off. When my doctor came in, he asked if I was an "athlete" with such a low resting HR... I just laughed and said "hardly".

I get the lightheadedness and faint feeling all the time, too. Lately, it's been happening after I get off a piece of cardio equipment, like the treadmill or elliptical. I'm guessing it's hydration-related, as I tend to not drink too much when I get up in the morning since I don't really like that "sloshing" around feeling in my tummy when I start my cardio.

[NbyNW]

Blood pressure high or low because of some condition.Such as blood pressure high if someone use to have more salt in his meal.And Blood pressure goes low because of low vitamin in your body.So try to have green vegetables in your food.

I've always had plenty of green vegetables in my diet so I think there must be some other reason for LBP in my case. I think it runs in my family somehow.

The only thing that has pushed my BP up to "normal" numbers is sustained, high levels of stress.

[redrhodie]

lph, I remember from a thread a while back that you use an inversion table. Are you still using it? I would think that would help.

Thread high jack! I got an inversion table about a month ago, and it has had no effect on my dizziness, but I feel great in many other ways. My ankles and toes, which were always swollen (and I didn't even know it because it was constant), are not anymore. I also haven't had a headache and my neck feels great. My massage therapist can't believe how all my usual knots are gone. But, like I said, the dizziness is the same.

[indysteel]

Like Eden, I've noticed a big connection between hydration and light headedness. I, too, have low BP. I only get faint when I'm dehydrated. I've had some scary the-room-is-spinning moments.

[trista]

+1 for hydration being a factor. I'm a 100/60 person, and I am susceptible to tunnel-vision and dizzy spells, but I really do not think my BP is the culprit. I notice a direct correlation w/ my hydration level and the dizzy spells. The more hydrated I am, the less likely I am to see black when i stand up. I also try to keep up on my iron intake and B12. It seems like the additional iron helps as well, but I can't know for sure. But I do know i *really* have to keep up with my hydration to keep the dizzy spells at bay.

[FlyingScot]

+1 for electrolytes. Hydration is obviously the key but too much water will only make it worse. We are the lucky few who don't have to worry about sodium intake. My BP runs 80-90's/40-50's. Freaks my co-workers out. I have to increase my sodium intake in the summer and before long rides. Orthostatic hypotension is a daily thing for me. I've learned to switch positions slowly and I cannot ride if it is near 90 or above because then I just get dizzy no matter what my position. There are medications you can take. Your doctor may want to do a "tilt-table" test to determine if you need them.