Feeling Faint? How Summer Can Give You Low Blood Pressure

Are you feeling weak, dizzy, and lightheaded? If that's a regular occurrence for you during the summer, you may think of these unpleasant symptoms as a normal side effect of warmer weather. If you're on holiday, meanwhile, you may attribute your symptoms to jet lag, alcohol, or a simple lack of sleep. Think again. It's quite likely that you're suffering from seasonal hypotension — low blood pressure brought on by warmer weather. 

How do seasons affect blood pressure, is hypotension dangerous, what are the symptoms and what can you do about it? Read on to find out more.

How Seasons Affect Blood Pressure

Seasonal changes in blood pressure are rarely talked about. That's surprising, because there is plenty of evidence that blood pressure rises in winter and drops during the summer. This is true for people of all ages groups and both genders, and happens even if your blood pressure is generally already too low or too high. It even happens to people who take medication for high blood pressure. 

Despite the fact that this phenomen was first observed as far back as 1920 and numerous studies have since been conducted to find out more about seasonal blood pressure changes, few people are aware of the possibility that this might happen. Hypertension patients, who tend to measure their blood pressure regularly, are perhaps most likely to be aware of the way in which their blood pressure changes with the weather.[1]

Hypotension: The Symptoms

The idea that neither high nor low blood pressure leads to symptoms is another very prevalent misconception. Many people do indeed notice changes in their blood pressure. That doesn't mean they're aware of the cause of their symptoms, of course. Blood pressure refers to the pressure in your arteries during both the resting and active phase of your heart beat. Systolic pressure, the top number on a blood pressure reading, refers to pressure while the heart is beating. Diastolic, the bottom number, refers to the pressure during the resting phase. 

The symptoms of low blood pressure include [2]:

• Feelings of general weakness
• Being lightheaded or dizzy
• Feeling unsteady on your feet
• Feeling like you may faint, or actually fainting
• Blurred vision
• Heart palpitations
• Nausea
• And even confusion

Sun, Sea And Hypotension? Here's What You Can Do To Bring Your Blood Pressure Up

Anyone who regularly experiences the symptoms mentioned on the first page should consult a doctor. We should note that similar symptoms can be caused by a variety of underlying medical issues, so you should always consult a doctor before attempting to self-treat hypotension using any of the tips below.

When you go to see your doctor about low blood pressure symptoms, you can expect to have your blood pressure measured and blood work done. Your doctor may also want to carry out an ECG and other tests that aim to determine how well your heart is performing.

What You Can Do About Hypotension

When you experience immediate episodes of low blood pressure, try to stop what you're doing. Sit down and take a rest, especially if you were walking. Drink some water, and you'll probably find that your symptoms improve after a short while.

Measures that will help you boost your blood pressure in the longer term include:

• Staying hydrated. Dehydration is a prime cause of summer hypotension, and drinking plenty of water can be a very effective preventative strategy. To aid hydration, it's also good to avoid soda, too much coffee, and alcohol. The latter two have dehydration effects, while soft drinks are simply a bad substitute for plain water.
• Increasing your salt intake. We've all been told too much salt is bad, but hypotensives can benefit from more salt immensely. Always talk this over with your doctor, who can advise you exactly how much salt to take and may even prescribe you salt tablets.
• Eat smaller meals more often. Some people experience hypotension after eating large meals. This step will prevent that.
• Don't stand up for long periods of time, and stand up gradually.
• Wear support stockings to increase your blood pressure, but again not without talking to your doctor.

Summer Hypotension In People Who Take Hypertension Meds

Hypertension patients who take medications such as vasodilators, ACE inhibitors and diuretics to keep their high blood pressure under control may indeed find that their medications "do their jo a little too well" during the summer. If you are a hypertensive and you notice symptoms of low blood pressure or get low blood pressure readings during the summer, talk to your doctor about reducing the dosage of your medications. Half a pill less will often do the trick. Continue to monitor your own blood pressure daily to make sure it stays within the normal range rather than being either too high or too low.