Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 2: During an acute attack
• Method 2 of 2: Follow-up actions
• Tips
• Warnings

Increase blood pressure with some basic first aid knowledge. As a patient, this knowledge could make you feel better. As a caregiver, you must above all remain calm towards the patient so that they can get through the crisis better. It is useful to have some medical knowledge if the patient's condition seems dangerous, but even in dire situations you can help the patient with a few strategic steps until medical help comes.

To step

Method 1 of 2: During an acute attack

1. Record the situation. If there are more frequent acute attacks, it may be a chronic problem. View the person's health. Is there any illness? At the time of the attack, was there anything that could have caused the sudden drop in the person's blood sugar levels? Above all else, stay calm. There may not be a bigger problem.
   • You should try to find out if there are any signs of dangerously low blood pressure. Normally these are: dizziness, feeling light-headed, inability to stand upright, poor vision, weakness, fatigue, nausea, feeling cold, clammy skin, fainting, and pale skin.
2. Make sure the patient drinks enough water (or other fluids). If the blood volume has increased and the dehydration has thus resolved, the hypertension may disappear. Sports drinks with electrolytes help restore minerals in the body. If the patient drinks these types of sports drinks or water, dehydration can be prevented.
   • Another way to (temporarily) raise blood pressure is to drink caffeine. Scientists are not sure why this is, but there are two possible explanations: it is suspected that certain hormones are blocked so that the arteries do not dilate, and that caffeine causes an increase in adrenaline, which increases blood pressure.
3. Give the patient something salty to eat. Salt causes increased blood pressure. That is also the reason that heart patients are allowed to eat little salt.
   • It is known that sodium (a substance that is in salt, among other things) causes increased blood pressure, so doctors usually recommend not to eat too much of it. Consult your doctor before switching to a sodium-rich diet, if you consume too much sodium you can develop heart problems (especially if you are elderly).
4. Make sure circulation is related to blood pressure. Keep the legs elevated and, if possible, use compression stockings. Compression stockings are used to combat varicose veins but can also be used against blood circulation problems in the legs.
5. Determine if the patient has taken the prescribed medication. It is possible that the problem was caused by not taking medication. Fluctuations in blood pressure are a known side effect of many medications, especially when several medications are combined.
6. Make sure the patient is still taking the prescribed medication. Make sure the patient understands the importance of taking medicines at the right times (the right dose)!
   • Also know that other types of medication such as; paracetamol, certain anti-inflammatories, and certain antidepressants can also cause increased blood pressure. If possible, these agents can also be used to increase blood pressure.
7. It can also help move your feet up and down before getting up. Even healthy people are known to have lower blood pressure when they stand up after sitting for a long time. When getting up (especially when you get out of bed) you should first sit up and then slowly get up.
   • If possible, you should try to exercise regularly to get the blood circulation going. If it's a chronic problem, keep moving and eat several small meals a day.

Method 2 of 2: Follow-up actions

1. Contact the patient's doctor if blood pressure is dangerously low. In that case, the advice of a medical professional is indispensable.
   • Explain the patient's circumstances to the doctor. If this is still possible, try to get the patient to describe the symptoms.
   • Do exactly as the doctor says. With low blood pressure, a doctor may recommend that you go to the nearest emergency room.
2. Measure blood pressure when the crisis is over. If the blood pressure is still too low, you may need to seek further medical attention. Ideally, blood pressure is slightly below 120/80.
3. Take the patient's blood pressure again one hour later, just to be sure. Also ask how the patient is feeling at the time and check for symptoms. Also make sure that the patient continues to drink even when they are not thirsty.

Tips

• Make sure you drink enough water during the day.
• If you suffer from low blood pressure, it is wise to buy a blood pressure monitor.
• Vitamin tablets help to keep your nutrition up to standard, so that your blood pressure also remains good.
• Compression stockings are necessary to maintain your blood circulation.

Warnings

• Low blood pressure can make a person feel light-headed. In other cases, low blood pressure can cause chills, and in the worst cases.
• Alcohol dehydrates the body, therefore patients should not drink alcohol!
• Dehydration is dangerous and can kill the patient! Therefore, make sure that you can act quickly if the patient suffers heat stroke or some other type of dehydration.