There is no scientific evidence that shows pectus excavatum causing low blood pressure. However, I recently saw a pattern on internet forums that many people with pectus excavatum say they have low blood pressure.
I am not a medical doctor, but I tried my best to back up my writings with scientific evidence.
A few years ago, I blacked out as I stood up after sitting for too long, probably due to a decrease in blood pressure.
That motivated me to do me throughout research about dizziness and low blood pressure, so it won't ever happen to me again. This blog post includes some tips I did to prevent that from happening again.
How to Measure
Blood pressure can sometimes be tricky to measure. If you think you have low blood pressure, please measure it for a week, at the same time, every day at home, after sitting down for 15 minutes.
I recommend you do this first thing in the morning before breakfast.
According to Mayo Clinic, blood pressure lower than 90 mm Hg for the maximum number or below 60 mm Hg for the bottom is considered low blood pressure.
Here's a YouTube video from the British Heart Foundation about measuring your blood pressure.
4 Diet Tips
Many things can cause low blood pressure. It can be certain medications, extended bed rest, a particular heart condition, or other reasons.
Whatever these reasons are, there are several ways to raise blood pressure. Dietary changes can also help you increase blood pressure. Minor changes in diet can significantly impact your health and your deformity.
Drink More Water
Drinking water provides many health benefits, extending to individuals with lower blood pressure. The increase of fluids increases hydration levels and increase blood flow.
Have a water bottle near you to drink more water, especially when you exercise.
Sports Drink or Tomato Juice
Drink tomato juice and sports drinks high in sodium. When ingesting sodium-rich foods in your fluids, it causes your body to retain fluids as your kidneys can't get rid of sodium quickly.
Coffee & Tea
Coffee and tea with caffeine can also increase blood pressure levels. However, please talk to your doctor first, as drinking caffeine with pectus excavatum can cause other health issues.
While many people have to worry about their sodium intake because it raises blood pressure, if you have low blood pressure, you may need to increase the amount of salt you eat by including soy sauce, seasonings, and table salt.
Many processed and prepared foods also have high sodium levels. Please, check with your physician first, as the increase in sodium can cause heart problems.
Eat Smaller Meals More Frequently
Because blood pressure levels often drop after eating, you should eat smaller portions of meals consisting of various nutrient-dense foods such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean proteins like fish and chicken.
2 Diet Things to Avoid
Now that you learned what to add to your diet, it is time to reduce something in your diet.
High Carb Foods
Avoid eating large portions of high-carbohydrate foods as they are digested quickly, lowering your blood pressure levels.
- Pasta
- Rice
- Potatoes
- Bread
- Oats
- Alcohol
Alcohol
Alcohol causes dehydration and also lowers blood pressure levels. It causes weakened blood vessels of a patient suffering from hypotension to dilate, causing a drop in blood pressure.
5 Tips to Raise Blood Pressure Instantly
Lay down or Sit Down
No matter where you are, do this. When you lay down, raising the legs on another object is recommended, so they're above your head levels. Drink water with small sips. It makes the blood thinner and increases its volume making it flow easily through the blood vessels.
Get Some Fresh Air
Breathe slowly and deeply with your diaphragm. This will stabilize your heartbeat and calm your emotional state. I recommend you go regular hiking in the sunshine.
Drink Green Tea With Sugar
The sugar will help you raise blood sugar levels, and the caffeine will help you with that.
Eat Something Salty
Eat something salty, but only if you've drunk water. It induces water retention and decreases the risk of reduced blood pressure by dehydration.
Take a Nap
Control your sleep to physical exercise balance. Sleep for about 8 hours a day. Taking a quick nap when you feel low blood pressure can help.
9 Symptoms of Low Blood Pressure
You can feel that your blood pressure is low if you experience the following symptoms:
- Dizziness and lightheadedness, especially when you stand up suddenly
- Fainting
- Unfocused or fading eyesight
- The feeling of sickness and even a tendency to vomit
- General tiredness
- Problem concentrating on a task
- Cold and pale skin
- Shortness of breath
- Soft but fast heartbeat
4 Ways to Reduce Symptoms
AVOID HOT BATH
Don't take a hot bath. It is better to take a shower, whether cold or hot. I am a massive fan of taking cold showers, increasing alertness, and improving my mood.
DON'T STAND FOR TOO LONG
Avoid standing for an extended period, so your blood won't stagnate in your legs. Please walk or sit from time to time. Walking or sitting down after 30 minutes to an hour is recommended if you work on a stand-up desk.
TRAIN CALVES
Train the calf muscles, which helps maintain the tonus of blood vessels and facilitate blood passage through the veins.
COMPRESSIVE UNDERWEAR
If you're a female with pectus excavatum, wearing compressive underwear can help with circulation and can reduce blood congestion in the legs.
Don't Panic
If your blood pressure is low, there is no need to worry unless you're experiencing symptoms. In some cases, low blood pressure can indicate a healthy heart.
Athletes like runners have low blood pressure, even in the 60s and 90s. Younger individuals can also have lower blood pressure.
Regardless of age, if the patient is experiencing symptoms related to blood pressure, like dizziness, low headed, or seeing spots, that is when it is essential to know why causes this.
Low blood pressure can be a problem if you're getting from a seated position to standing or lying and standing and feeling lightheaded.
Regular physical activity and hydration can help increase blood pressure and manage these symptoms. If patients have an electrolyte imbalance, doctors can recommend supplements.
Here's a video from Lee Health, one of Florida's most significant public health systems, about low blood pressure.
Visit a Doctor
If you experience these symptoms frequently, you should see a doctor. If you feel good but experience the signs, the doctor will usually monitor you during routine exams.
Don't worry. Your pectus excavatum deformity may not cause low blood pressure but is a consequence of dehydration or spending too much time in the sun.
Conclusion
Even though pectus excavatum isn’t proven to cause low blood pressure, in this article, I wrote a few proven tips to help you raise your already low blood pressure if you have it.
Few dietary changes and lifestyle changes can help you with this. If you have any concerns, please comment in the comment section below. Thank you for reading!
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