Dangerous Drops: How to Raise Blood Pressure That Falls Too Low

Worries about blood pressure typically involve it running too high. But did you know that low blood pressure — especially when it drops suddenly — can be equally concerning and even dangerous?

Heart rhythm specialist Jeffery Courson, DO, explains what can happen when your BP bottoms out and — more importantly — how you can nudge it back up.

What to do if your blood pressure is too low

An ideal or “normal” blood pressure (BP) is at or just below 120/80 mmHg. Blood pressure at or below 90/60 mmHg is considered low, or hypotensive. (Learn more about what those numbers mean.)

A sudden and dramatic drop in blood pressure into that low zone can happen for many different reasons, but the symptoms look similar across the board, says Dr. Courson. If your blood pressure has plunged too low, you may:

• Feel dizzy, lightheaded or confused
• Notice your vision changing
• Be cold and clammy to the touch
• Start sweating profusely or feeling overheated
• Become nauseated — or even vomit
• Hear ringing in your ears
• Develop a headache
• Get anxious or stressed
• Feel weak, lose control of your muscles or be unable to stand

Here are seven things you can do to help elevate your BP if it falls too far.

Lie down

Lying down can bring an immediate bump in blood pressure. The reason? When you're horizontal, your blood vessels don’t have to fight gravity as much as they do when you’re standing.

Your body knows this intuitively, too. That explains why a sudden drop in BP can cause you to pass out, or faint (syncope), as a forced reset. It’s basically a physiological version of hitting CTRL + ALT + DEL on your computer.

So, if you feel like your blood pressure’s dropping and you might faint, change positions from standing to sitting to lying down.

“Not only does changing your position raise your blood pressure and make you less likely to faint, it also means that — if you do pass out — you will be less likely to fall and hurt yourself,” says Dr. Courson.

Still, be aware of your surroundings and try to avoid stairs, tile floors and other hard surfaces if you’re feeling shaky.

Hydrate

Your blood is mostly water. If you’re dehydrated, that lack of fluid in your body reduces your blood volume. Less blood in your system leads to a drop in blood pressure because your blood vessels aren’t as full.

Think of it like your garden hose: If there’s not much water coming from the spigot, there’s not much pressure in the line.

“When your body’s properly hydrated, it does a better job of regulating your blood pressure,” says Dr. Courson. “If your blood pressure is low, drinking fluids can raise your blood volume and improve circulation.”

Use your muscles

If your blood pressure dips too low, activating your muscles can coax it back up. There are a few different ways you can do this:

Squeeze a stress ball or something equivalent in your dominant hand as hard as you can for as long as you can (or until you feel better). Don’t have anything to squeeze? Make a tight fist, like you do when you’re having blood drawn.

If you’re standing up, cross your legs like you need to pee. Now, squeeze all the muscles in your legs, abdomen and buttocks as hard as you can for as long as you can (or until you feel better).

Place your hands together and interlock your fingers. Now, for as long as you’re able (or until you feel better), tense your arms and try to pull them apart.

Wear compression gear

The squeeze supplied by compression garments can bump up low blood pressure.

Whether you’re wearing compression leggings or an abdominal binder, the pressure they put on your body promotes better circulation. That means less blood pooling in the veins in your lower body — which means more blood making its way back to your heart with every beat.

If you’re at home and start feeling off, putting on compression therapy gear may stop a BP plunge, notes Dr. Courson. If you’re prone to sudden dips in your blood pressure, it’s a good idea to keep compression wear stored in your car, office or bag.

Drink some coffee

The jolt delivered by a cup of coffee may help raise blood pressure that has sunk too low.

One caveat, though: Caffeinated coffee doesn’t have the same effect on everyone. How much you routinely drink, your DNA and a whole host of other factors can affect how you metabolize your java.

So, if you’re one of those people who guzzle coffee by the pot… well, it’s unlikely to be a super effective tool for raising BP in a pinch, says Dr. Courson.

Cool off

When you’re hot, your blood vessels expand. These widened vessels essentially slow down circulation and allow gravity to more easily pull blood toward your feet and away from your brain.

If you feel overheated and woozy, finding a cooler location to rest and lower your temperature may bring your BP back up, suggests Dr. Courson. Grab a drink of water while you’re at it, too.

Reduce your stress

We’ve all heard of people passing out in a moment of grief, anguish or surprise. Ditto the sight of blood or needles. It’s called “situational syncope,” and it’s basically your body’s way of trying to protect you from emotional distress.

If you’re upset enough that it’s starting to affect you physically and lower your BP, sit or lie down and do some deep and relaxing breathing exercises like:

• Box breathing
• Five-finger breathing
• 4-7-8 breathing

Danger of blood pressure that’s too low

The consequences of sustained low blood pressure can be deadly, cautions Dr. Courson. A dramatic drop in blood pressure can reduce the amount of blood getting to your organs. If they’re starved of oxygen for too long, it can cause your body to go into shock.

How low is dangerously low? According to Dr. Courson, it depends on what you consider a “normal” blood pressure as your levels naturally fluctuate throughout the day.

A sudden drop in blood pressure of just 20 mmHg is enough to make a person pass out. In other words, if you have chronic high blood pressure, dropping to a “healthy” level all of a sudden could count as a hypotensive crisis.

For that reason, it’s best to focus on the kind and severity of the symptoms you’re experiencing, not a specific number on a blood pressure monitor.

When to seek medical attention

While occasionally lower BP isn’t necessarily a problem, a sudden episode of severe hypotension should be treated as a medical emergency. Call 911 if the following happens suddenly and without explanation:

• Fainting or loss of consciousness
• Cold, clammy skin
• Excessive paleness or a blue tone to the skin
• A weak but rapid heartbeat
• Fast, shallow breathing

Also, if you’ve had multiple attacks of low blood pressure, contact a healthcare provider. They can run tests to help you figure out what’s triggering those dips and make suggestions for managing hypotensive episodes when they happen.

Low BP that’s left untreated has the potential to do permanent damage over time, after all. Chronic low blood pressure needs monitoring, attention and treatment just like high blood pressure.

“If you’re on the fence about getting help, it’s best to err on the side of caution,” advises Dr. Courson. “When in doubt, make the call.”