What is low blood pressure? Hypotension, or low blood pressure, is when blood pressure is much lower than expected. It can occur both as a condition in itself and as a symptom of many other conditions. It may not cause symptoms, but when it does, it may require medical attention. Hypotension has two definitions: Absolute hypotension: your resting blood pressure is below 90/60 mmHg (millimeters of mercury). Orthostatic hypotension: your blood pressure drops within three minutes of getting up from a sitting position. The drop must be 20 mmHg or more for systolic (top) pressure and 10 mmHg or more for diastolic (bottom) pressure. Another name for this phenomenon is postural hypotension, because it occurs with a change in posture. What is the difference between hypotension and hypertension? Hypotension and hypertension are opposite conditions. Hypertension: The prefix "hyper-" means "too high." Hypotension: The prefix "hypo-" means "too low." Who is affected? Hypertension can affect people of all ages and backgrounds, depending on why it happens. However, it is more likely to cause symptoms in older people (especially orthostatic hypotension). It can also occur without symptoms in people who are very physically active, which is more common in younger people. How often does this condition occur? Since low blood pressure is common without any symptoms, it is impossible to know how many people it really affects overall. However, orthostatic hypertension appears to become more common with age. It is estimated that 5% of people suffer from it by the age of 50, and the number rises to more than 30% in people over 70. Natural remedies Most people with low blood pressure do not need drugs or other medical interventions to raise their blood pressure. There are plenty of natural ways and lifestyle changes to raise low blood pressure, including the following lifestyle changes. 1. Eat more salt Contrary to popular advice, low-sodium diets are not good for everyone with blood pressure problems. People with low blood pressure should consider moderately increasing their sodium intake to help raise blood pressure. 2. Avoid alcoholic beverages Alcohol can further lower blood pressure, so people with low blood pressure should avoid drinking excessive amounts of alcohol. 3. Discuss medications with your doctor Low blood pressure can be a side effect of many medications. If symptoms of low blood pressure begin after a person has started taking the drug, he or she should discuss these symptoms with his or her doctor. 4. Crossing legs while sitting Crossing the legs while sitting has been shown to increase blood pressure. For people with high blood pressure, this can be a problem. For those with symptoms of low blood pressure, crossed legs can help increase blood pressure with minimal effort. 5. Drink water Drinking more water can help increase blood volume, which can aleviate one of the potential causes of low blood pressure. It can also help avoid dehydration. 6. Eat small meals frequently Eating smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day can help with low blood pressure. This is because smaller meals help prevent the drop in blood pressure associated with eating larger, heavier meals. 7. Wear compression stockings Compression stockings help reduce the amount of blood that gets into the lower legs and feet, so shifting it elsewhere. Compression stockings are also used to help relieve pressure and pain associated with varicose veins. 8. Avoid sudden changes in position Rapidly sitting down or standing up can cause lightheadedness, dizziness or potential fainting in people with low blood pressure. In these cases, the heart does not pump blood fast enough through the body to account for the sudden change in position or altitude. 9. Be aware of symptoms Low blood pressure is considered a problem only when there are symptoms. If there are no symptoms, low blood pressure should be considered a sign of good health. It is important for a person to know the symptoms and what to look out for if their low blood pressure begins to cause problems.