DemonAbyss10
Veteran
Joined: 23 Aug 2007
Age: 37
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,492
Location: The Poconos, Pennsylvania
31 Dec 2009, 11:39 am
31 Dec 2009, 5:16 pm
I self medicate with salt. Lots of salt means I have less head rushes and the ones I do have are mild.
(pedantic mode : activated)
Sodium is the major solute in blood, and since blood sodium concentration must stay in a narrow range for nerve cells to be able to function (as well as prevent osmotic changes than can cause brain damage), upping sodium causes the body to compensate by retaining more water to keep the blood diluted appropriately. So IOW the total volume of blood in the body increases, which increases blood pressure. The usual cause of orthostatic hypotension is dehydration leading to low circulating volume.
(pedantic mode : off)
Hehe, yay for ASD pedantry!
I also figured it was the sodium.
Kassiane
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
Joined: 20 Dec 2008
Age: 43
Gender: Female
Posts: 60
Location: Portland
01 Jan 2010, 1:25 am
01 Jan 2010, 10:37 am
I self medicate with salt. Lots of salt means I have less head rushes and the ones I do have are mild.
That's so awesome! I had no idea salt could be used to moderate low blood pressure, or its effects. I have low blood pressure and those head spins and stuff and I also love salty food. I love salted liquorice - Dutch liquorice - even the really strong stuff.
01 Jan 2010, 10:56 am
01 Jan 2010, 12:37 pm
I self medicate with salt. Lots of salt means I have less head rushes and the ones I do have are mild.
That's so awesome! I had no idea salt could be used to moderate low blood pressure, or its effects. I have low blood pressure and those head spins and stuff and I also love salty food. I love salted liquorice - Dutch liquorice - even the really strong stuff.
I also love licorice. Sadly I can rarely get any that doesn't contain wheat flour, which gives me stomach cramps.
I did get hold of some nice licorice a while ago though, it's really hard and a danger to my molars, but it is lovely.
I think my low blood pressure is a hereditary thing, as my two sisters have it too.
@Kassiane, that sucks. Is it just cortisol or all over? Can you still make adrenaline?
01 Jan 2010, 3:40 pm
That's really interesting that you both like licorice (warning: more pedantry ahead... ).
Licorice actually simulates the effect of an adrenal hormone called aldosterone. That hormone tells the kidneys to retain more sodium in the body. So it tends to raise blood pressure. (depending on dose, of course) It's actually pretty much the same on blood pressure as increasing salt intake.
It's like your bodies/brains automatically figured out what to do; kind of amazing!
01 Jan 2010, 4:27 pm
).Licorice actually simulates the effect of an adrenal hormone called aldosterone. That hormone tells the kidneys to retain more sodium in the body. So it tends to raise blood pressure. (depending on dose, of course) It's actually pretty much the same on blood pressure as increasing salt intake.
It's like your bodies/brains automatically figured out what to do; kind of amazing!
Haha, don't worry about the pedantry!
Yeah I wondered about that too. Licorice alleviates my head rushes same as salt does. Strangely enough, too, with licorice I can go for longer without eating and not get hypoglycemia like symptoms. ??
Maybe I am slightly low in aldosterone.
21 Jan 2010, 4:12 am
DemonAbyss10
Veteran
Joined: 23 Aug 2007
Age: 37
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,492
Location: The Poconos, Pennsylvania
21 Jan 2010, 11:41 am
23 Jan 2010, 12:57 pm
Mine's always on the low side. Generally high-90s to low-100s over 60s. I can always tell when it gets waaaaay too low though, like 80s/50s because I'll see spots, get vertigo, and just feel "not right".
The highest reading I've ever had was 122/78. (I am a nurse, so I take it pretty frequently.)
I do have orthostatic hypotension...which is when your blood's not pumping hard enough to compensate for a sudden shift in position. When I stand up suddenly, things blacken and I have to wait a minute or I'll fall over.
Also, the symptoms of HIGH blood pressure (hypertension) can be pretty similar to those of low blood pressure (hypotension). Wise to buy a cuff for yourself ($20 or less) if you're not sure which one you have going on and are having weird symptoms.
DemonAbyss10
Veteran
Joined: 23 Aug 2007
Age: 37
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,492
Location: The Poconos, Pennsylvania
23 Jan 2010, 1:49 pm
The highest reading I've ever had was 122/78. (I am a nurse, so I take it pretty frequently.)
I do have orthostatic hypotension...which is when your blood's not pumping hard enough to compensate for a sudden shift in position. When I stand up suddenly, things blacken and I have to wait a minute or I'll fall over.
Also, the symptoms of HIGH blood pressure (hypertension) can be pretty similar to those of low blood pressure (hypotension). Wise to buy a cuff for yourself ($20 or less) if you're not sure which one you have going on and are having weird symptoms.
Thats the thing, I dont feel weird at all. and even doctors have said Im about as healthy as is possible asside from trying to back on as much muscle as possible. If it helps, other than the BPs mentions further up, pulse rate for me is usually in the 40s while inactive, but can spike into the 70s when doing strenuous activities.
23 Jan 2010, 9:49 pm
strapshoechris
Pileated woodpecker
Joined: 15 Dec 2005
Gender: Male
Posts: 197
Location: Rocky Mountains
24 Jan 2010, 12:11 am
24 Jan 2010, 1:51 pm
24 Jan 2010, 2:18 pm
