Low blood pressure, generally defined as a reading below 90/60 mmHg, is treated through a combination of dietary changes, lifestyle adjustments, and sometimes medication. A drop of just 20 mmHg in systolic pressure can cause dizziness or fainting, so treatment focuses on keeping blood pressure stable enough to prevent symptoms during daily activities.
Increase Salt and Fluid Intake
The simplest first-line treatment for low blood pressure is consuming more salt and water. Salt helps your body retain fluid, which increases blood volume and raises blood pressure. For people with orthostatic disorders (where blood pressure drops upon standing), expert guidelines recommend between 2,400 and 4,000 mg of sodium per day, with some specialists pushing that to 4,000 to 4,800 mg for more severe cases. For context, the average American already consumes around 3,400 mg daily, so this might mean adding only a modest amount through salted foods, broth, or electrolyte drinks.
Water intake matters just as much. Drinking 2 to 3 liters of fluid per day is the standard recommendation for people with chronic low blood pressure. Water alone can acutely improve your ability to tolerate standing upright. Drinking a full glass of water 15 to 30 minutes before getting out of bed or before prolonged standing can make a noticeable difference.
Adjust How and What You Eat
Blood pressure naturally dips after meals as your body redirects blood flow to your digestive system. This is called postprandial hypotension, and it’s especially common in older adults. Two changes help: eating six smaller meals throughout the day instead of three large ones, and keeping those meals low in carbohydrates. Large, carb-heavy meals cause the biggest post-meal blood pressure drops. Prioritizing protein, healthy fats, and non-starchy vegetables at each meal helps keep your pressure more stable.
Use Compression Garments
Compression stockings work by gently squeezing your legs, which prevents blood from pooling in your lower body when you stand. Most experts recommend waist-high stockings rated at 20 to 30 mmHg or 30 to 40 mmHg of pressure. Knee-high stockings are easier to put on but less effective, because a significant amount of blood pools in the abdomen and thighs, not just the calves. The higher the garment reaches, the more blood it pushes back toward your heart and brain.
Putting them on first thing in the morning, before you get out of bed, gives you the most benefit. They can feel tight and warm, so many people use them selectively on days when they’ll be standing or walking for long periods.
Change Positions Slowly
One of the most practical things you can do costs nothing. When getting out of bed, sit on the edge for a minute or two before standing. When rising from a chair, pause briefly. Crossing your legs while standing and tensing your thigh muscles can help push blood upward. If you feel lightheaded, sitting or squatting down immediately is safer than trying to power through it, since fainting and falling is one of the real dangers of untreated low blood pressure.
Elevating the head of your bed by 4 to 6 inches (using bed risers, not pillows) can also help. Sleeping at a slight incline trains your body to better regulate blood pressure when you transition to standing.
Medications for Persistent Symptoms
When lifestyle changes aren’t enough, two types of medication are most commonly prescribed. The first works by tightening blood vessels directly. It’s taken three times a day during waking hours, spaced about four hours apart, with the last dose no later than 6 p.m. Taking it too close to bedtime can cause dangerously high blood pressure while lying down, which is the main risk to watch for.
The second type is a synthetic steroid that helps your kidneys retain sodium and water, expanding blood volume. It’s effective but requires regular blood work to monitor potassium levels, since it causes your body to excrete more potassium than usual. Some people on this medication need potassium supplements or dietary adjustments to stay balanced.
Both medications are typically reserved for people whose symptoms significantly interfere with daily life, and your provider will monitor blood pressure in different positions to fine-tune the dose.
Symptoms That Need Urgent Attention
Low blood pressure is often harmless, but rapid drops can starve your brain and organs of adequate blood flow. Warning signs that the situation has become serious include fainting or near-fainting, confusion or unusual changes in behavior, skin that looks noticeably paler than normal, nausea or vomiting alongside dizziness, and a heart rate that feels unusually fast or slow. Cool extremities, particularly around the kneecaps, can be another sign that circulation is compromised. These symptoms together can signal shock, which requires emergency treatment.
Isolated, brief lightheadedness when you stand up quickly is common and usually manageable with the strategies above. But if you’re passing out, if symptoms are worsening over time, or if low blood pressure is new and unexplained, that pattern needs medical evaluation to rule out an underlying cause like dehydration, blood loss, heart problems, or an endocrine disorder.