Low Blood Pressure

[Guest adamssa]

What are the best ways to raise your blood pressure?

You know, the more I read the more I'm finding out that everything is related with auto-immune problems, it sometimes seems impossible to find the root thing, maybe there is no root thing maybe it was all little things that spiraled out of control. Celiac disease can give you thyroid problems which can give you blood sugar problems and adrenal problems, which can give you blood pressure problems...Does anyone here feel that they've dealt with such a complex array enough to feel that it hasn't completely taken over their life? I feel that it's much easier to not feel overwhelmed by it all when you don't have brain fog...but if you can't manage that it is all too much.

I know people on this board practice a lot of holistic/naturopathic medicine, do any of you ever do any reading --healing work on the mind-body connection? I DON"T mean at all we get sick because we're hypchondriacs who can't cope, rather I think of it as the true causes of illness/suffering. I've been reading a lot about chakras. Now I am rambling.

Sara

[dlp252]

I haven't found a good way to raise my blood pressure yet, lol. I eat a TON of salt, but that doesn't seem to raise it. On my last doctor visit it was 86/63, and that was in the office setting where it is usually a bit higher. I've always had low blood pressure, but it was always around 112/whatever is the lower end of normal. So it's really taken a dive in the last year or so.

I have the adrenal fatigue issue and possibly the thyroid issue and am in the process of trying to determine the root cause of it all. I have a huge problem with candida and definitely have a leaky gut, but what caused it all is still a mystery. I haven't done a lot of reading yet, but mercury toxicity is also a problem and that may be one of the roots...I'm taking steps now to correct it, so too soon to tell.

One of my doctors said though that my body is over burdened with the different stressors right now, and it is important for me to try to reduce as much of that load as possible. Lots of rest, sleep, eating right, etc...it all plays a part, so I have no doubt that the mental aspect is right up there in importance.

[Ursa Major]

Omega 3 fatty acids will regulate blood pressure. It will make it go up when it is too low, and lower it when it is too high. In the winter, your best bet is cod liver oil, as it will also give you the much needed vitamin D (unless you're in Australia, of course, where it's summer right now, in which case you just take fish oil). The Carlson brand is best, as it doesn't taste terrible.

One thing that will lower your blood pressure even more, is eating apples. Avoid apples when you have low blood pressure altogether.

[georgie]

Omega 3 fatty acids will regulate blood pressure. It will make it go up when it is too low, and lower it when it is too high. In the winter, your best bet is cod liver oil, as it will also give you the much needed vitamin D (unless you're in Australia, of course, where it's summer right now, in which case you just take fish oil).

Actually, Australians have Vit D deficiency too now - as we are told to stay out of the sun.

I haven't found a good way to raise my blood pressure yet, lol. I eat a TON of salt, but that doesn't seem to raise it. On my last doctor visit it was 86/63, and that was in the office setting where it is usually a bit higher. I've always had low blood pressure, but it was always around 112/whatever is the lower end of normal. So it's really taken a dive in the last year or so.

I have the adrenal fatigue issue and possibly the thyroid issue and am in the process of trying to determine the root cause of it all. I

Low BP can be a sign of adrenal fatigue. Adrenal fatigue happens with a lot of problems and also thyroid. The medically accepted way to treat and perhaps cure Adrenal Fatigue is per Dr Jeffries book' Safe Uses of Cortisol'. He has tested his work over many years and has researched the topic well. He advocates Hydrocortisone at a dose to reduce symptoms but before replacement dose. Used as he suggests - it is possible to heal the adrenals.

[dlp252]

Low BP can be a sign of adrenal fatigue. Adrenal fatigue happens with a lot of problems and also thyroid. The medically accepted way to treat and perhaps cure Adrenal Fatigue is per Dr Jeffries book' Safe Uses of Cortisol'. He has tested his work over many years and has researched the topic well. He advocates Hydrocortisone at a dose to reduce symptoms but before replacement dose. Used as he suggests - it is possible to heal the adrenals.

Thanks once again Georgie! I am going to have my thyroid tested (with ALL Frees and the antibodies, yay) in the next couple of weeks, so I'll know for sure about that part. In the mean time I'll look up the book you suggest.

[Nancym]

Well, I've been aflicted with autoimmune problems for quite awhile, first thyroid now akylosing spondylitis. And behind it all, a raging IBS which magically went away when I got rid of gluten/dairy. It is definitely connected and I think leaky gut is the connector!

[georgie]

Thanks once again Georgie! I am going to have my thyroid tested (with ALL Frees and the antibodies, yay) in the next couple of weeks, so I'll know for sure about that part. In the mean time I'll look up the book you suggest

The book is fairly heavy reading as its a medical text book. My hubbie read it and has told me pieces of info. The team at STTM have made it even easier to understand if you can follow their forums. Basically a healthy adrenal produces 40 - 60 mg of cortisone a day. If you have low adrenal function you need to supplement for a while to rest and heal.The closest bio identical cortisone is HydroCortisone. Traditionally other forms of cortisone have been used which are 5x stronger than HC - hence the confusion and fear re cortisone. The best test for low adrenals is saliva testing and to take 4 tests during the day. Hope your Dr does that. Some use urine testing. Others just a serum test. Your BP sounds far too low. Have you done the pupil self tests from STTM ? Low adrenal and low thyroid go together a lot.

When you get your tests make sure you get the paper results. My Thyroid Antibodies were only borderline but my Thyroid is barely functioning and I have severe late stage damage.

[DingoGirl]

My blood pressure was REALLY low all my life, and in recent years would be like Donna's, at times. I would almost black out when standing.....I remember once it was something like 84 over 48....

and now, one year gluten-free, it is totally normal. I have no idea how it relates to Celiac, except that now I am absorbing nutrients, and blood/vitamin levels are normal. I do know that at time of dx, my red cells had shrunk significantly (is that hematocrit, the volume of the cells? I can't remember), whihc I believe contributes to low blood pressure. They are now pretty much back to normal, along with bp.

[dlp252]

The book is fairly heavy reading as its a medical text book. My hubbie read it and has told me pieces of info. The team at STTM have made it even easier to understand if you can follow their forums. Basically a healthy adrenal produces 40 - 60 mg of cortisone a day. If you have low adrenal function you need to supplement for a while to rest and heal.The closest bio identical cortisone is HydroCortisone. Traditionally other forms of cortisone have been used which are 5x stronger than HC - hence the confusion and fear re cortisone. The best test for low adrenals is saliva testing and to take 4 tests during the day. Hope your Dr does that. Some use urine testing. Others just a serum test. Your BP sounds far too low. Have you done the pupil self tests from STTM ? Low adrenal and low thyroid go together a lot.

When you get your tests make sure you get the paper results. My Thyroid Antibodies were only borderline but my Thyroid is barely functioning and I have severe late stage damage.

Yes, my adrenals were tested by saliva, with the 4 samples over 24 hours. I did the pupil test and according to that I had adrenal fatigue. Then I had the saliva testing.

I'm a bit dubious of the thyroid testing though...have you ever heard of it being done by saliva?? That was the test I was given...It will test for all the Frees plus the antibodies, but I don't think I'd ever heard of it being tested by saliva, lol.

[dlp252]

My blood pressure was REALLY low all my life, and in recent years would be like Donna's, at times. I would almost black out when standing.....I remember once it was something like 84 over 48....

and now, one year gluten-free, it is totally normal. I have no idea how it relates to Celiac, except that now I am absorbing nutrients, and blood/vitamin levels are normal. I do know that at time of dx, my red cells had shrunk significantly (is that hematocrit, the volume of the cells? I can't remember), whihc I believe contributes to low blood pressure. They are now pretty much back to normal, along with bp.

Yep, I feel like I might pass out sometimes too when I stand. My other doctor did a BP test, where she takes BP while sitting down, then standing up. Most people will have a rise in BP when they stand, but mine drops by about 10 points. That was the other way she figured I had adrenal fatigue.

I wish going gluten free cured mine, lol.

[georgie]

I'm a bit dubious of the thyroid testing though...have you ever heard of it being done by saliva?? That was the test I was given...It will test for all the Frees plus the antibodies, but I don't think I'd ever heard of it being tested by saliva, lol.

I have heard its OK. I haven't had it done myself. My saliva test was for adrenals and hormones and that test was the most accurate test I had for ages. I have had a lot of blood tests and they haven't always been that accurate. Find out now that you can have cellular resistance with adrenal fatigue , and that gives artificially high/good serum results , and doesn't reflect what is happening at cellular level. Does your Dr support the Jeffries treatment of adrenal fatigue ? You have to shop for a Dr that has worked with adrenal fatigue to get the best results.

[dlp252]

I have heard its OK. I haven't had it done myself. My saliva test was for adrenals and hormones and that test was the most accurate test I had for ages. I have had a lot of blood tests and they haven't always been that accurate. Find out now that you can have cellular resistance with adrenal fatigue , and that gives artificially high/good serum results , and doesn't reflect what is happening at cellular level. Does your Dr support the Jeffries treatment of adrenal fatigue ? You have to shop for a Dr that has worked with adrenal fatigue to get the best results.

They didn't mention Jeffries by name. They're having me take a lot of supplements including stuff like DHEA, pregnenolone, Progest (cycled), Support Adrenals, and some other stuff. The DHEA, pregnenolone & Progest are sublingual drops which are tapering off every so many weeks. I think I need to do some more reading over at STM, lol

[Generic]

Another thought, when you are de-hydrated your blood pressure will be lower as well. For years I never really retained luiqids of any form. (blood work never showed I was de-hydrated). If I drank alot of water gatorade etc. it goes right thru me like a big water filter system. So If I got glutened I would go into a state of delerium within an hour or 2 if it was a good enough bout and end up in the e.r. with an i.v.

Yes my blood pressure was pretty low even when I wasn't glutened. The only thing that seemed to make it more stable was seeing an accupuncturist. I noticed I didn't have the bladder of a hamster any more and my skin for the first time in my life was no longer dry. Just a thought.

-Laurie