Hypotension: stabilising blood pressure and improving energy
Low blood pressure can cause dizziness, fatigue, and circulation issues. Functional medicine investigates the underlying causes, supporting optimal blood flow and overall vitality.
Natural treatment for low blood pressure (hypotension)
Looking to treat hypotension naturally, or find out more about how to? This page covers:
At Melbourne Functional Medicine, we’ll work closely with you to identify and treat the cause of your hypotension naturally and effectively using our award winning healthcare approach.
What is low blood pressure (hypotension)?
Understanding your condition
Hypotension is defined as a sustained low systemic blood pressure of 90mmhg (Systolic) over 60mmhg (diastolic) or less.
Hypotension is not considered to be a component of cardiometabolic disease, however may be a symptom of other structural or functional changes to the heart and blood vessels. These factors, along with kidney function, neurological conditions, effects of medications, shock, or loss of blood volume should be investigated before reaching a diagnosis of benign hypotension or low blood pressure without known cause.
What is low blood pressure (hypotension)?
Understanding your condition
Hypotension is defined as a sustained low systemic blood pressure of 90mmhg (Systolic) over 60mmhg (diastolic) or less.
Hypotension is not considered to be a component of cardiometabolic disease, however may be a symptom of other structural or functional changes to the heart and blood vessels. These factors, along with kidney function, neurological conditions, effects of medications, shock, or loss of blood volume should be investigated before reaching a diagnosis of benign hypotension or low blood pressure without known cause.
A surprising (and common) misconception
Many people believe that having low blood pressure is healthy. Whilst in most people, hypotension is asymptomatic and therefore does not present any clinically significant risk to the patient, symptomatic presentations need to be carefully investigated to identify any underlying condition or systemic dysfunction that results in the low blood pressure reading.
Using the functional medicine approach, our practitioners can determine the cause of hypotension and resolve it using natural methods, so that health is restored.
Low blood pressure symptoms – what does low blood pressure feel like?
In most people, hypotension will be asymptomatic and will be an incidental finding during a routine medical examination. In a small number of people, hypotension will be a symptom that develops as an effect of a more serious condition requiring medical attention.
A small number of people with hypotension will experience some mild to moderate signs and symptoms of low blood pressure which may include:
- Dizziness, especially when moving from a lying to a standing position, or if bending over
- Fainting, especially following quick postural changes, or if exposed to high-temperature environments
- Brain fog or lack of concentration, especially if sitting for extended periods of time
- Tiredness, fatigue or a general lack of energy
How is hypotension diagnosed?
Like with hypertension, the gold standard for diagnosing hypotension is by 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, where an automatic digital blood pressure machine is fitted and worn by the person for 24 hours, during which time the machine measures blood pressure twice per hour during waking hours, and at least once per hour during the night. The mean wake and sleep blood pressures, along with a number of other blood pressure values are calculated to determine hypotension.
Understanding blood pressure readings
- Systolic blood pressure (top number): The maximum pressure when the heart contracts and pumps blood through the arteries. Felt as your pulse
- Diastolic blood pressure (bottom number): The minimum pressure when the heart rests between beats
Normal range: Around 120/80 mmHg ± 20 mmHg in a healthy population
When it’s too low: Lower blood pressure is usually better, but if it drops enough to cause symptoms, it is called hypotension
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What causes low blood pressure?
Excluding hypotension associated with significant medical concerns, hypotension has no specific known cause and will usually be caused by systemic dysfunctions that impact one of the key regulatory mechanisms for blood pressure.
The key regulatory mechanisms are:
- The ability of the heart rate to increase and decrease responsively
- The ability of the heart muscle to contract more or less forcefully as required
- The ability of the blood vessels to expand and contract to control blood flow to the tissues and blood pressure
- The ability of the body to regulate blood volume by controlling fluid balance in the body
Contributing factors
As benign hypotension has no specific known cause, conditions or dysfunctions that result in the following may need to be considered as risk factors for:
- Chronic unintentional dehydration or poor hydration practices leading to electrolyte or hormonal imbalances
- Systemic inflammatory conditions that affect blood vessel responsiveness to expand and contract, or lead to other more serious cardiovascular or cardiometabolic diseases
- Stress-related disorders that result in syncope (fainting)
Treatment for low blood pressure (hypotension) – the conventional approach
Whilst there are no universally accepted values for determining hypotension, it is most commonly accepted as being a systolic pressure of less than 90mmHg and a diastolic pressure of less than 60mmHg. In many cases, hypotension is diagnosed if a patient presents with the signs of symptoms of low blood pressure without any other identifiable cause.
In asymptomatic hypotension, no treatment is generally recommended. In symptomatic patients, the treatment for low blood pressure will include investigating for a number of potentially serious underlying causes, such as:
- Abnormalities in heart structure and function
- Renal disorders
- Effects from medications
- Neurological disorders
How to treat low blood pressure (hypotension) – the Melbourne Functional Medicine approach
Practitioner Mark Payne has extensive experience in cardiometabolic health and takes a thorough approach to assessing low blood pressure, beginning with a detailed case history and functional testing where needed. This investigative approach helps to uncover the cause of hypotension to create a plan that will outline how to treat low blood pressure to bring it back into optimal ranges, and for symptoms to resolve.
Depending on the unique clinical presentation of each patient, functional testing may be required to explore underlying factors like nutrient imbalances, hormonal imbalances (thyroid, adrenals), nervous system health, and general pathology tests, including cholesterol and fasting glucose. Referral to specialist services may also be required.
Natural treatment for low blood pressure
For natural support, functional medicine practitioners work alongside cardiologists to create a personalised plan which may include:
- Ensuring adequate hydration
- Improving electrolyte balance
- Addressing nutrient imbalances
- Supporting and modulating systems involved in blood pressure regulation
- Restoring imbalances in the thyroid glands, adrenal glands or nervous system
And, to help you fast-track getting well again, we give you the ongoing support and guidance of a health coach, who is there to help you achieve your goals with ease.
Ready for a personalised, natural functional medicine treatment?
Our unique model of care was designed with you in mind. Find out how, then book a call today
Frequently
Asked
Questions
How to control hypotension
Controlling hypotension starts with identifying the underlying cause. For some people, simple steps such as staying well hydrated and balancing electrolytes, including adequate sodium from foods like olives, pickles, or a sprinkle of sea salt, can make a difference.
In more complex cases, addressing root causes of low blood pressure may require targeted interventions. This is best guided by a practitioner experienced in supporting hypotension.
Why is my blood pressure so low?
Low blood pressure can have many causes. Common reasons include:
- Dehydration or poor hydration habits: leading to electrolyte and hormonal imbalances
- Systemic inflammatory conditions: which can affect how blood vessels expand and contract, or contribute to more serious cardiovascular or cardiometabolic conditions
- Stress-related disorders: sometimes causing dizziness or even fainting (syncope)
If your blood pressure is persistently low, it’s important to explore the underlying cause with an experienced practitioner.
What foods are good for low blood pressure?
A well-planned diet can help manage low blood pressure and support healthy circulation. Key dietary strategies include:
- Stay well hydrated: Dehydration lowers blood volume and can trigger a drop in blood pressure. Drinking enough water helps maintain volume and stability
- Eat water-rich fruits and vegetables: Cucumbers, celery, zucchini, tomatoes, cabbage, watermelon, pineapple, apples, pears, and papaya all support hydration
- Increase natural sodium intake ‘where salt goes, water goes‘: Sodium helps the body retain fluid, which raises blood pressure. Good sources include olives, pickled foods, sauerkraut, beans, carrots, beets, and lean meats
- Support red blood cell production with vitamin B12: Deficiency can cause anaemia, leading to low blood pressure and fatigue. Foods rich in B12 include liver (lamb, chicken), mussels, oysters, sardines, octopus, and eggs
- Limit alcohol: Excess alcohol acts as a diuretic, depleting hydration and lowering blood pressure
What are the symptoms of low blood pressure?
Low blood pressure doesn’t always cause symptoms, but when it does, they can include:
- Dizziness or light-headedness, especially when standing
- Blurred vision
- Fainting (syncope)
- Fatigue or weakness
- Nausea
- Difficulty concentrating
If you’re experiencing these symptoms frequently, it’s important to investigate the underlying cause rather than just managing the symptoms.
Can stress or anxiety cause low blood pressure?
Yes, stress and anxiety can influence blood pressure. While they are more commonly linked to high blood pressure, some people experience low blood pressure during episodes of stress, trauma, or emotional overwhelm. This is often due to dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis or nervous system imbalance.
Functional medicine practitioners assess the role of stress alongside other factors like hydration, nutrition, and hormones to create a personalised plan for restoring balance.
Is low blood pressure dangerous?
Low blood pressure is not always dangerous, especially if you feel well. In fact, some people naturally have lower blood pressure without issues.
However, when blood pressure is too low, it can reduce blood flow to vital organs such as the brain, heart, and kidneys. This may lead to dizziness, fainting, or in more severe cases, organ damage.
If your low blood pressure is causing symptoms or has developed suddenly, it’s important to seek professional guidance to rule out underlying conditions.
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