How does regular coffee consumption affect blood pressure levels. What are the potential cardiovascular benefits of drinking coffee. Can coffee consumption impact both peripheral and central aortic pressure. Does the number of cups consumed daily matter for blood pressure regulation.

The Surprising Link Between Coffee and Blood Pressure

Recent research has unveiled an intriguing connection between coffee consumption and blood pressure levels. Contrary to long-standing beliefs, individuals who regularly indulge in coffee appear to have significantly lower blood pressure compared to those who abstain or consume minimal amounts. This revelation challenges previous notions about caffeine’s impact on cardiovascular health and opens up new avenues for understanding the complex relationship between our daily habits and overall well-being.

The groundbreaking study, published in the journal Nutrients, was conducted by researchers from the University of Bologna and the University Hospital of Bologna – Sant’Orsola Polyclinic. Their findings suggest that moderate coffee consumption may have a protective effect on cardiovascular health, particularly in relation to blood pressure regulation.

Decoding the Coffee-Blood Pressure Connection

The research team analyzed data from a subset of participants in the Brisighella Heart Study, an ongoing observational study in Italy. They examined the association between coffee consumption habits and various blood pressure parameters in a sample of 1,503 individuals (720 men and 783 women).

The results were striking: people who consumed one to three cups of coffee daily exhibited notably lower peripheral blood pressure compared to non-coffee drinkers. This effect was observed in both systolic and pulse pressure measurements, indicating a comprehensive impact on blood pressure regulation.

Central Aortic Pressure: A New Frontier in Coffee Research

Perhaps the most groundbreaking aspect of this study was its examination of central aortic pressure – the blood pressure closest to the heart. For the first time, researchers were able to confirm that habitual coffee drinkers also demonstrated lower central aortic pressure values, mirroring the effects seen in peripheral circulation.

This discovery provides a more holistic understanding of coffee’s potential cardiovascular benefits, as central aortic pressure is considered a crucial indicator of overall cardiovascular health.

Unraveling the Caffeine Conundrum

While caffeine has long been associated with temporary increases in blood pressure, this study suggests that other components in coffee may counteract these effects, resulting in an overall positive impact on blood pressure levels.

Dr. Arrigo Cicero, the study’s lead author, emphasizes that caffeine is just one of many bioactive compounds found in coffee. The observed benefits persist even among consumers of decaffeinated coffee, indicating that the positive effects on human health extend beyond caffeine alone.

Beyond Caffeine: Exploring Coffee’s Complex Composition

Coffee contains a rich array of bioactive compounds, including polyphenols, diterpenes, and various minerals. These substances may work synergistically to influence cardiovascular health through multiple mechanisms, such as:

• Improving endothelial function
• Reducing oxidative stress
• Modulating inflammation
• Enhancing insulin sensitivity

Further research is needed to fully elucidate the specific roles of these compounds in blood pressure regulation and overall cardiovascular health.

Optimal Coffee Consumption for Blood Pressure Benefits

The study’s findings suggest that moderate coffee consumption – specifically two to three cups per day – may offer the most significant blood pressure benefits. This aligns with previous research indicating that moderate coffee intake is associated with a lower risk of various health conditions, including cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and certain neurodegenerative disorders.

Is there an ideal amount of coffee to consume for optimal blood pressure regulation? While individual responses may vary, the current evidence points to a “sweet spot” of two to three cups daily. However, it’s important to note that factors such as individual tolerance, overall diet, and lifestyle habits can influence the effects of coffee on blood pressure and general health.

Coffee and Cardiovascular Risk: A Paradigm Shift

The implications of this research extend far beyond the realm of blood pressure management. By demonstrating a clear association between regular coffee consumption and lower blood pressure levels, the study contributes to a growing body of evidence supporting coffee’s potential role in reducing cardiovascular risk.

Professor Claudio Borghi, who led the study, emphasizes that these findings confirm the positive effect of coffee consumption on cardiovascular risk factors. This paradigm shift challenges long-held beliefs about coffee’s impact on heart health and may lead to new approaches in preventive cardiology.

Potential Mechanisms of Cardiovascular Protection

While the exact mechanisms by which coffee may protect against cardiovascular disease are not fully understood, several theories have been proposed:

1. Antioxidant effects: Coffee is rich in antioxidants that may help combat oxidative stress and inflammation, both of which are implicated in cardiovascular disease development.
2. Improved glucose metabolism: Some studies suggest that coffee consumption may enhance insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance, potentially reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes – a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
3. Endothelial function: Certain compounds in coffee may help improve the function of the endothelium, the inner lining of blood vessels, which plays a crucial role in regulating blood pressure and cardiovascular health.
4. Lipid profile modulation: Some research indicates that coffee consumption may positively influence cholesterol levels, potentially contributing to a more favorable lipid profile.

Further research is needed to fully elucidate these mechanisms and their relative contributions to coffee’s cardiovascular benefits.

Debunking Coffee Myths: Separating Fact from Fiction

The findings of this study challenge several long-standing myths about coffee and its effects on health. Let’s examine some common misconceptions in light of the current evidence:

Myth 1: Coffee Always Raises Blood Pressure

While it’s true that caffeine can cause a temporary spike in blood pressure, this study suggests that regular coffee consumption is associated with lower overall blood pressure levels. The key lies in the complex interplay of coffee’s various components, which may have a net positive effect on blood pressure regulation.

Myth 2: Coffee is Bad for Your Heart

Contrary to popular belief, moderate coffee consumption appears to have protective effects on cardiovascular health. The association between regular coffee intake and lower blood pressure levels suggests that coffee may actually contribute to a reduced risk of heart disease and stroke.

Myth 3: Decaf Coffee Has No Health Benefits

The study’s findings indicate that the positive effects of coffee on blood pressure are not solely attributed to caffeine. This supports the notion that decaffeinated coffee may also offer health benefits, likely due to the presence of other bioactive compounds.

By dispelling these myths, we can develop a more nuanced understanding of coffee’s role in health and wellness, potentially leading to more informed dietary choices and public health recommendations.

Implications for Public Health and Dietary Guidelines

The revelation that regular coffee consumption is associated with lower blood pressure levels has significant implications for public health strategies and dietary guidelines. As cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, identifying modifiable lifestyle factors that can positively impact cardiovascular health is crucial.

Could coffee consumption be incorporated into heart-healthy dietary recommendations? While it’s premature to make blanket recommendations based on a single study, the growing body of evidence supporting coffee’s potential cardiovascular benefits warrants serious consideration.

Potential Areas for Policy and Guideline Updates

• Dietary guidelines: Future iterations of national and international dietary guidelines may need to reassess their stance on coffee consumption, potentially acknowledging its role in cardiovascular health.
• Preventive health strategies: Healthcare providers may consider discussing coffee consumption as part of a holistic approach to cardiovascular risk reduction in appropriate patients.
• Public health messaging: Educational campaigns aimed at promoting heart health may need to update their messaging regarding coffee consumption, moving away from outdated notions of its harmful effects.
• Research priorities: This study highlights the need for further research into the long-term effects of coffee consumption on various aspects of cardiovascular health, potentially influencing funding allocation for nutrition and public health research.

As with any dietary recommendation, it’s important to consider individual factors such as caffeine sensitivity, existing health conditions, and potential interactions with medications. Healthcare providers should be prepared to offer personalized advice regarding coffee consumption based on the latest evidence and individual patient circumstances.

Future Directions in Coffee and Cardiovascular Research

While this study provides valuable insights into the relationship between coffee consumption and blood pressure, it also opens up numerous avenues for further investigation. As our understanding of coffee’s complex effects on human health continues to evolve, several key areas emerge as priorities for future research:

Long-term Prospective Studies

To establish a more definitive causal relationship between coffee consumption and cardiovascular health outcomes, large-scale, long-term prospective studies are needed. These studies should track coffee consumption patterns and cardiovascular health markers over extended periods, ideally spanning several decades.

Mechanism Elucidation

Further research is required to identify the specific compounds in coffee responsible for its blood pressure-lowering effects and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. This may involve both in vitro studies examining the effects of individual coffee components on vascular cells and in vivo studies in animal models.

Genetic Factors and Individual Variation

Investigating the role of genetic factors in modulating the cardiovascular effects of coffee consumption could help explain individual variations in response. This may lead to more personalized recommendations based on genetic profiles.

Interaction with Other Dietary Factors

Exploring how coffee consumption interacts with other dietary components and overall dietary patterns in influencing cardiovascular health could provide a more comprehensive understanding of its role in a balanced diet.

Effects on Specific Populations

Examining the impacts of coffee consumption on blood pressure and cardiovascular health in specific populations, such as individuals with hypertension, diabetes, or other cardiovascular risk factors, could yield valuable insights for clinical practice.

As research in these areas progresses, we can expect to gain a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of coffee’s role in cardiovascular health, potentially leading to more targeted and effective public health strategies.

People who regularly drink coffee have significantly lower blood pressure

• Download PDF Copy

Reviewed by Emily Henderson, B.Sc.Feb 7 2023

Drinking coffee helps maintain low blood pressure. People who drink two or three cups of coffee a day have lower blood pressure than those who drink just one cup or none at all. This applies both to peripheral and central aortic pressure, i.e. the one closest to the heart.

This was shown by a research published in the journal Nutrients, carried out by scholars of the University of Bologna and the Unversity Hospital of Bologna – Sant’Orsola Polyclinic. The investigation analyzed the association between coffee consumption and peripheral and central blood pressure parameters in a sample of the Italian population.

The results obtained show that those who regularly drink coffee have significantly lower blood pressure, both on peripheral and central levels, than those who do not drink it. “

Arrigo Cicero, professor at the Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences at the University of Bologna and first author of the study

“This is the first study to observe this association in the Italian population, and the data confirm the positive effect of coffee consumption on cardiovascular risk,” adds Prof. Claudio Borghi, who led the study.

Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in Italy and the world: it is estimated that almost 10 million tons of coffee were consumed globally in 2020 and 2021. Despite the long-standing fears of its negative health consequences, several benefits have long since emerged: a lower risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and certain neurodegenerative and liver diseases has been observed among regular coffee drinkers. However, it is not yet clear what these benefits are due to, and they do not appear to be directly related to the effects of caffeine.

“Caffeine is only one of the several coffee components and certainly not the only one with an active role. Positive effects on human health have indeed been recorded even among those who consume decaffeinated coffee,” says Cicero. “We know that caffeine can increase blood pressure, but other bioactive components in coffee seem to counterbalance this effect with a positive end result on blood pressure levels.”

Related Stories

• Simple, low-cost clip uses a smartphone’s camera and flash to monitor blood pressure
• Boiled coffee overload: Consuming six or more cups daily linked to higher dementia and Alzheimer’s risk
• Blood culture vs. metagenomic next-generation sequencing for the detection of pathogenic microbes in patients with suspected bloodstream infections

To investigate these effects, especially with respect to central blood pressure values, the scholars looked at a sample of 720 men and 783 women from a sub-cohort of the Brisighella Heart Study, which is an observational study coordinated by Claudio Borghi, professor at the Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences at the University of Bologna. Blood pressure levels and coffee consumption habits, along with a range of other clinical data, were compared for each selected individual.

“The results are very clear: peripheral blood pressure was significantly lower in individuals consuming one to three cups of coffee a day than in non-coffee drinkers,” Cicero explains. “And for the first time, we were also able to confirm these effects with regard to the central aortic pressure, the one close to the heart, where we observe an almost identical phenomenon with entirely similar values for habitual coffee drinkers compared to non-coffee drinkers.”

Indeed, data show lower values for coffee drinkers in both systolic and pulse pressure, and in both peripheral circulation and central aortic pressure. All results confirm the positive effects of coffee in mitigating the risk of cardiovascular disease.

The study was published in the journal Nutrients under the title “Self-Reported Coffee Consumption and Central and Peripheral Blood Pressure in the Cohort of the Brisighella Heart Study”. The authors are Arrigo Cicero, Federica Fogacci, Sergio D’Addato, Elisa Grandi, Elisabetta Rizzoli and Claudio Borghi of the Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences of the University of Bologna and IRCCS (Scientific Institute for Research, Hospitalization and Healthcare) University Hospital of Bologna – Sant’Orsola Polyclicnic.

Source:

University of Bologna

Journal reference:

Cicero, A.F.G., et al. (2023) Self-Reported Coffee Consumption and Central and Peripheral Blood Pressure in the Cohort of the Brisighella Heart Study. Nutrients. doi.org/10.3390/nu15020312.

Posted in: Medical Research News | Medical Condition News

Tags: Blood, Blood Pressure, Caffeine, Cardiovascular Disease, Coffee, Diabetes, ELISA, Healthcare, Heart, Hospital, Liver, Low Blood Pressure, Nutrients, Research

Comments (1)

• Download PDF Copy

What To Eat To Help Raise Low Blood Pressure

Many people wonder what to eat to help raise low blood pressure. Low Blood Pressure (also known as Hypotension) is typically considered to be a blood pressure reading under 90/60 mm Hg. This condition affects many people, particularly as they grow older. Between 10% and 20% of Americans over the age of 65 have hypotension to some degree. Symptoms include fainting, blurred vision, dizziness, and lightheadedness. If left untreated, low blood pressure can result in a heart attack or stroke, causing long-term damage to the heart and brain, or even death.

Low blood pressure can be caused by a variety of factors, including medication side effects and conditions like diabetes. What you eat also has a notable impact on your heart health and blood pressure. Here are eight diet tips that might help raise your blood pressure back up to a healthy level.

Here’s What To Eat To Help Raise Low Blood Pressure:

Drink Plenty of Fluids

When you’re dehydrated, your blood volume is reduced, which causes your blood pressure to decrease. Most doctors recommend drinking at least two liters (roughly eight glasses) of water every day. Your water intake should be higher in hot weather or while exercising.

Eat Salty Foods

Foods with high salt content can elevate your blood pressure. Good sources of salt include olives, cottage cheese, and canned soup or tuna. You can also add table salt or sea salt to your meals, depending on your preference.

Drink Caffeine

Beverages like coffee and caffeinated tea cause an increase in heart rate and a temporary spike in blood pressure. This effect is usually short-term, and caffeine intake does not affect everybody’s blood pressure the same way. If you’re a regular coffee drinker, you may also develop a higher tolerance for its effects on the vascular system.

Boost Your B12 Intake

Vitamin B12 performs a critical role in helping the body produce healthy red blood cells. Lack of this important vitamin can result in anemia, which lowers blood pressure and can result in excessive bleeding as well as organ and nerve damage. Foods that are rich in vitamin B12 include eggs, chicken, fish like salmon and tuna, and low-fat dairy products.

Fill Up On Folate

Folate (also known as Vitamin B9) is another essential vitamin found in foods such as asparagus, broccoli, liver, and legumes such as lentils and chickpeas. A folate deficiency can have many of the same symptoms as a Vitamin B12 deficiency, causing anemia which leads to lowered blood pressure.

Cut Back On Carbs

Foods that are high in carbohydrates, particularly processed carbs, tend to digest very quickly relative to other foods. This can lead to sudden drops in blood pressure. A low-carb diet has been shown in some studies to help with off-setting hypotension, especially in older adults.

Reduce Meal Size

When you eat a large meal, it takes your body a lot more energy to digest it, which can send your blood pressure plunging. This is particularly a problem for breakfast-skippers and intermittent fasters – skipping meals can frequently lead to over-eating later to compensate. Even if you’re not reducing the overall amount that you’re eating, having smaller meals throughout the day is healthier for both your digestion and blood flow.

Easy On The Alcohol

Among its many negative health effects, drinking alcohol dehydrates you, which lowers your blood pressure by reducing your blood volume. Imbibe responsibly when you do drink. Try to have a glass of water after each alcoholic beverage in order to avoid dehydration.

Maintaining normal blood pressure is so important to the health of your heart and arteries, and it’s important to stay on top of your levels so you can make appropriate changes before health problems occur. If you have normal blood pressure, you should still try to get it checked at least once every year or two. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of low blood pressure, please contact one of our expert cardiologists and we can help you craft a plan to avoid future issues.

Do you have low blood pressure and need help managing it?

Book an Appointment

Not just coffee: what to eat and drink with low blood pressure coffee in one: what to eat and drink with low blood pressure

Not coffee in one: what to eat and drink in low blood pressure

What foods will help you feel better and not fall from lack of energy – read in a special selection from Sputnik. Be healthy! 02/22/2022, Sputnik Belarus

2022-02-22T13:46+0300

2022-02-22T13:46+0300

2022-02-22T14:25+0300

health

society

blood pressure

food

/html /head/meta[@name=’og:title’]/@content

/html/head/meta[@name=’og:description’]/@content

https://cdnn11.img.sputnik. by/img/104154/14/1041541414_0:317:3077:2047_1920x0_80_0_0_dcd034cbfdee6f533635a31987060a16.jpg

Agree that people talk about high blood pressure much more often than low blood pressure, but it does happen be. Hypotension is unlikely to compare with hypertension (chronic high blood pressure), which leads to the risk of heart attack, stroke and other serious illnesses, but it can still ruin your existence. So, how to adjust the pressure and not suffer from a decrease in performance, Sputnik will tell. Products that can and should be eaten with reduced pressure are in our selection. Coffee The most common advice that all hypotensive patients know firsthand is to drink coffee. Caffeine raises blood pressure and tones, that’s right. And yet, do not forget about the sense of proportion (a couple of cups of coffee a day), as well as the fact that caffeine can be addictive and stop working on you. Fatty fish Anyone who suffers from low blood pressure should add red fish to their diet. Eat it at least twice a week (more often is better). It not only increases blood pressure, but also strengthens the immune system. Starchy foods Surprisingly, it is a fact: doctors really recommend that hypotensive patients eat starchy foods. But here you also need to understand which starch is useful and which is not. The most useful starch is resistant, it does not break down into glucose. It is found in rice and potatoes. Fruits and vegetables It’s trite, but as it is. A fruit and vegetable plate will always be at the table and will give you all the necessary vitamins. Just eat 500 grams of both daily. Bitter chocolate Only for dessert and only within the normal range. An excess of sugar is unlikely to please your body, but nothing terrible will happen from 25-30 grams. Controversial assistants Controversial, but supposedly “working” foods are red wine and salt. They shouldn’t get involved. No one has canceled the harm of ethyl alcohol, but reducing salt intake is in the recommendations of the World Health Organization.>>> If you want even more relevant and interesting news, subscribe to the Sputnik Belarus Telegram channel Also on Sputnik:

Sputnik Belarus

[email protected]

+74956456601

MIA „Rosiya Segodnya“

2022

Sputnik Belarus 9000 3

[email protected]

+74956456601

MIA „Rosiya Segodnya“

News

ru_BY

Sputnik Belarus

[email protected]

+74956456601

MIA „Rosiya Segodnya“

1920 900 03

1080

true

1920

1440

true

_0_0_07a51039e25413cce754661b27b98bf5.jpg

1920

1920

true Belarus

[email protected]

+74956456601

MIA “Rosiya Segodnya”

Sputnik Belarus

health, society, blood pressure, food

health , society, blood pressure, food

Agree that people talk about high blood pressure much more often than low blood pressure, but it does happen. Hypotension is unlikely to compare with hypertension (chronic high blood pressure), leading to the risk of heart attack, stroke and other serious diseases, but it can still ruin your existence.

So, how to adjust the pressure and not suffer from a decrease in performance, Sputnik will tell. Products that can and should be eaten under reduced pressure – in our selection.

Coffee

The most common advice that all hypotensive patients know firsthand is to drink coffee. Caffeine raises blood pressure and tones, that’s right. And yet, do not forget about the sense of proportion (a couple of cups of coffee a day), as well as the fact that caffeine can be addictive and stop working on you.

Oily fish

Anyone suffering from low blood pressure should add red fish to their diet. Eat it at least twice a week (more often is better). It not only increases blood pressure, but also strengthens the immune system.

Starchy foods

Surprisingly, it is a fact: doctors really recommend that hypotensive patients eat starchy foods. But here you also need to understand which starch is useful and which is not. The most useful starch is resistant, it does not break down into glucose. It is found in rice and potatoes.

Fruits and vegetables

Trite, but as it is. A fruit and vegetable plate will always be at the table and will give you all the necessary vitamins. Just eat 500 grams of both daily.

Dark chocolate

Only for dessert and only within the norm. An excess of sugar is unlikely to please your body, but nothing terrible will happen from 25-30 grams.

Controversial assistants

Controversial, but allegedly “working” products – red wine and salt. They shouldn’t get involved. No one has canceled the harm of ethyl alcohol, and reducing salt intake is in the recommendations of the World Health Organization.

>>> If you want even more relevant and interesting news, subscribe to the Telegram channel Sputnik Belarus

Also on Sputnik:

What happens to the body when you eat fat-free “milk”?

“The truth of the body”. Salt

What happens to the body when you stop drinking alcohol?

what can and cannot be done with it and why it is dangerous

I have had low blood pressure all my life, as far as I can remember. Many doctors I go to find this embarrassing. Someone advises to play sports or drink more coffee, others, on the contrary, discourage exercise and prohibit caffeine. How to live if you have low blood pressure? How dangerous is it and what can and cannot be done in this condition?

Daniil Davydov

medical journalist

Author profile

If you have low blood pressure but feel fine, you can continue your normal lifestyle. There are no restrictions and additional recommendations for you.

But if low blood pressure is accompanied by nausea, dizziness and fainting, you should definitely consult a doctor, determine the cause of the feeling unwell and start treatment.

Go to the doctor

Our articles are written with love for evidence-based medicine. We refer to authoritative sources and go to doctors with a good reputation for comments. But remember: the responsibility for your health lies with you and your doctor. We don’t write prescriptions, we give recommendations. Relying on our point of view or not is up to you.

How to live with low blood pressure

Blood pressure is the force with which blood presses against the walls of blood vessels. When the heart contracts and pushes blood into the arteries, the pressure in them is the highest, and it is called systolic, or upper. When the heart relaxes, the pressure in the arteries drops – it is called diastolic, or lower. Upper and lower pressures are usually written with a slash.

What is blood pressure – NHS, NHS

What is considered low blood pressure. Normal blood pressure – 90/60 to 120/80 mmHg. Pressure 120/80 mmHg Art. and above is considered high, or hypertonic, and the pressure is 90/60 mm Hg. Art. and below – low, or hypotonic.

Understanding Low Blood Pressure – US National Library of Medicine

Do’s and Don’ts of Low Blood Pressure. If a person constantly lives with low blood pressure and at the same time feels fine, this does not harm health. It is not necessary to increase the pressure to normal values ​​with the help of physical activity, drugs or caffeinated drinks. Restrictions also make no sense: people with asymptomatic low blood pressure can lead the same lifestyle as with a normal one.

Some doctors even believe that people with low blood pressure are lucky: they have a lower risk of developing deadly cardiovascular diseases like heart attack and stroke than their peers with normal and high blood pressure.

/caffeine-and-health/

Is it true that caffeine is good for health?

What you need to know about the work of the brain

The main thing about effective ways not to succumb to stress and thinking errors is in your mail twice a month on Fridays. Free

Why low blood pressure is dangerous

Low blood pressure becomes a problem only when it is no longer enough to successfully supply oxygen-rich blood to the organs. In this situation, a person has all or only some of the symptoms from this list:

• trouble concentrating;
• blurred vision;
• weakness;
• dizziness;
• presyncope or syncope;
• nausea;
• cold, clammy, pale skin;
• rapid, shallow breathing;
• depression-like symptoms.

What you need to know about low blood pressure – American Heart Association

These symptoms, combined with low blood pressure, can indicate serious health problems ranging from cardiovascular, neurological and endocrine diseases to internal bleeding.

In some people, blood pressure is usually normal, but sometimes it can drop so much that the organs stop getting enough blood. More often this happens if a person has eaten, got up from a sitting position, spent a lot of time on his feet or after physical exertion. Also, the pressure is affected by certain medications, type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and neurological diseases.

What causes blood pressure to drop too much – International Physician’s Guide Uptodate

To find out what exactly is going on and get the right treatment, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible.

How doctors look for the cause of low blood pressure in a patient

internist, cardiologist of the Atlas Clinics

Typically, people with low blood pressure who experience weakness, dizziness, tinnitus, lightheadedness, a feeling of darkening in the eyes and complain of fainting, turn to a neurologist, cardiologist or therapist.

At presentation, the doctor should examine the patient and determine if low blood pressure is accompanied by a decrease in heart rate. The doctor also asks the patient if he has family members with similar symptoms, about the medicines he takes, and about the circumstances under which the pressure decreases. For example, this happens after eating or physical activity, or the pressure is always low.

Based on these data, the specialist prescribes examinations. For example, it can refer to urine and blood tests for hemoglobin and hematocrit, glucose, protein fractions, electrolytes, ferritin levels in the blood, and some hormones. Also, examinations usually include blood pressure measurements in the supine, sitting and standing position, electrocardiography, ECG, and exercise tests.

In some cases, an electroencephalogram, EEG, echocardiography, echocardiography, and a tilt test are prescribed to determine the cause of fainting. During this procedure, the patient’s blood pressure and ECG are continuously measured for 1.5 hours. Depending on the result, the doctor makes a diagnosis and prescribes treatment.

How to reduce the discomfort of low blood pressure

After a doctor makes a diagnosis and prescribes treatment, pressure usually returns to normal. But while the treatment has not worked, discomfort can be reduced if:

• sleep in a bed with the head of the head raised so that the head is higher than the level of the heart;
• try to get up as smoothly and slowly as possible so that the body has time to adapt to the new position;
• avoid overheating;
• drink plenty of fluids, especially in hot weather.