[kfierle]

I have had low blood pressure all my life. Recently it has started causing me some problems. I have the tendency to dehydrate easily and I don't sweat, I overheat. Combine both of those with my low blood pressure and my blood pressure tends to drop suddenly when I get up and move quickly. When I was at my place in The Villages in April, I was walking across the living room, passed out and put the left side of my face through the drywall next to the sliding door. I was very lucky I didn't lose an eye and only had some scrapes and bruises.

I have been working with my doctor to try to increase my blood pressure through lifestyle and diet changes, not drugs. He said jokingly that I need a salt lick in my kitchen. Yes, I need to increase my salt intake, but that is a challenge for me. When growing up, my mother could not use any salt, pepper, or spices when cooking because one of my older sisters had a kidney problem. My parents would salt and pepper their food when on their plates. I am so used to eating food with no salt that adding it to my diet is a bit difficult. If I use any canned items, I am used to the no salt added or low sodium options. Salt appears to be an acquired taste and I have having trouble acquiring a taste for it! My doctor told me to try Gatorade, but I would rather drink out of a mud puddle. I tried forcing some down, but it ended coming back up! I currently exercise about 2 hours a day to increase my pressure. I am open to new ideas and ways to increase my blood pressure. Two weeks ago my pressure was up slightly.

Does anyone else have this problem or have any tips/tricks I could use to increase my blood pressure? I prefer to not be on medication if at all possible.