Why Does Blood Pressure Fluctuate?

Blood pressure changes naturally many times a day. Most changes are normal and predictable. When these spikes and valleys in your blood pressure occur, you may not experience unusual signs or symptoms.

Everyone's blood pressure rises and falls many times during the course of a single day, sometimes even within minutes. Many factors contribute to these changes, including physical activity, emotion, body position, diet (especially salt and alcohol intake), and sleep deprivation.

Most trips to the doctor’s office will include a blood pressure reading. That’s because your blood pressure can tell your doctor a lot about your health. A number that’s a little low or a little high may be a sign of potential issues. Changes in your blood pressure between visits can be an indication of health issues, too. Your blood pressure is a reading of the force with which blood is passing through your circulatory system. Blood pressure changes naturally many times a day. Most changes are normal and predictable. When these spikes and valleys in your blood pressure occur, you may not experience unusual signs or symptoms. These fluctuations may be brief and fleeting. However, if you notice that the high pressure readings are really high or the low pressure readings are unusually low, you may want to speak with your doctor. When you notice these changes, it’s important you record them in a log. Write down your numbers, your activities, and how long it took for the number to reach normal again. This information may help you or your doctor detect a pattern or a problem.

Causes

Fluctuating blood pressure can be caused by several issues.

Stress

Emotional stress and anxiety can temporarily increase blood pressure. Over time, excess stress can take a toll on your cardiovascular system and might lead to permanent blood pressure problems.

White-coat syndrome

White-coat syndrome occurs when worry or stress from a doctor’s appointment causes a temporary spike in blood pressure. At home, you may find your reading is normal. The high blood pressure reading doesn’t mean you have hypertension (high blood pressure). However, people with white-coat hypertension are more likely to develop high blood pressure.

Medication

Both over-the-counter and prescription medications can impact your blood pressure. Some medications, like diuretics and blood pressure pills, are designed to lower your blood pressure numbers. Others, like cold and allergy medications, can increase your blood pressure.

Activity

Exercise, talking, laughter, and even sex can cause blood pressure fluctuations.

Food and drink

What you eat or drink might impact your blood pressure reading. Foods high in tyramine, a substance found in aged foods, can increase blood pressure. This includes foods that are:

fermented
pickled
brined
cured

Drinks with caffeine can boost blood pressure numbers temporarily, too.

Adrenal issues

Your adrenal system is responsible for hormone production. Adrenal fatigue occurs when your hormone production is low. Your blood pressure may fall as a result. An overactive adrenal system can cause sudden spikes in blood pressure and hypertension.

Pheochromocytoma

This rare tumor develops in the adrenal glands and impacts hormone production. It can cause sudden bursts of irregular blood pressure readings with normal spans in between.

Risk factors

These factors may put you at greater risk for experiencing fluctuating blood pressure:

high levels of stress
anxiety
taking blood pressure pills that aren’t effective or don’t last until your next dose
tobacco use
excessive alcohol consumption
night-shift work

Certain conditions can also increase your risk for developing an abnormal blood pressure. These include:

diabetes
pregnancy
dehydration
cardiovascular disease
poorly controlled or uncontrolled high blood pressure
obstructive sleep apnea
kidney disease
thyroid problems
nervous system problems

Treatment

Fluctuating blood pressure numbers don’t necessarily need treatment unless they’re caused by an underlying condition or disease. That’s why treatment for fluctuating blood pressure consists of three main components. These are:

Regularly monitoring your blood pressure. Unusual highs and lows may predict future problems, so monitor your numbers regularly to catch problems early.
Making healthy lifestyle changes. Healthy lifestyle practices can help you avoid blood pressure problems or fluctuations.
Taking medications as prescribed. Your doctor may prescribe medication to help regulate your blood pressure if lifestyle changes aren’t adequate.