Does Blood Pressure Increase After Eating?
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Doctors often describe postprandial hypotension as a condition in which the blood vessels and heart don’t respond as well as they should after eating. It is more common to be found in elderly people.
The symptoms may include lightheadedness, dizziness, disturb-vision, and nausea. If you have a postprandial hypotension, the following lifestyle approaches may help:
- About 15 minutes before your meal, drink plenty of water (about 12-18 ounces of water).
- Choose smaller meals instead of larger meals! Eating a large meal can give more impact on your BP! Try with about 6-7 smaller meals throughout the day.
- Be careful with rapidly digested carbohydrates such as potatoes, white rice, and refined flour – they can pass from your stomach (gastric) to small intestine faster than other foods. This may give more impact on your BP.
- Relax your body for a few minutes after a meal by sitting – don’t get standing or lying down right away after meals!
Should you check your blood pressure before and after eating?
The common parameter used by doctors to determine whether or not you have normal BP levels is from your resting BP. The normal resting BP level is around 115 /75 to 120 /80 mm Hg – according to the American Heart Association.
Since eating can give impact on your BP, checking BP before and after eating is commonly not recommended. But due to certain reasons, sometimes this may be suggested, ask your doctor for more advice
See also this section to get an accurate blood pressure reading with sphygmomanometer!
