low blood pressure

[bluedragon]

Is it normal to have lower than normal blood pressure during the induction phase? You see my base line has always been 120/80 and it hasn't changed that much. But today, on my fourth day of induction I discovered that my blood pressure was 110/60. My doctor friend who got my BP got a little worried saying I should be careful with my diet because having low blood pressure is not that good. What do you guys think? :confused:

Also, is it advisable to refrain from exercising at this point or during the induction phase? I had a two hour workout 2 days ago and I felt that I was about to faint after that. :(


Bludragon

[TeriDoodle]

By the following definition, you are within normal limits and should not be concerned. Read on:

In most healthy people, blood pressure remains above 90/60 (or, 90 over 60). However, blood pressure varies from person to person; what is considered borderline low for one person may be normal for another.

Chronic low blood pressure is almost never serious. But health problems occur when blood pressure drops suddenly and the brain is deprived of an adequate blood supply. This can lead to dizziness or lightheadedness. It most commonly occurs in someone who's rising from a prone or sitting position to a standing position. In such cases, it is known as postural hypotension, orthostatic hypotension or neurally mediated orthostatic hypotension. Clinically, postural hypotension is defined as a 20mm Hg–reduction in systolic blood pressure or a 10mm Hg–reduction in diastolic blood pressure within three minutes of standing.

Postural hypotension is considered a failure of the autonomic nervous system -- the part of the nervous system that controls involuntary vital actions, such as the heartbeat -- to react appropriately to sudden changes. When you stand up, some blood pools in your lower extremities. Uncorrected, this would cause your blood pressure to fall. However, normally your body compensates by sending messages to your heart to beat faster and to your blood vessels to constrict. This offsets the drop in blood pressure. If this does not happen, or happens too slowly, postural hypotension results.

The incidence of both low and high blood pressure normally increases with age, due in part to normal physiologic changes. In addition, blood flow in the brain declines with age, often as a result of plaque buildup in blood vessels. So the prevalence of postural hypotension also increases with age; an estimated 10 percent to 20 percent of elderly people have postural hypotension.

Symptoms of postural hypotension include:

Dizziness
Lightheadedness
Unsteadiness
Dimming or blurring of vision
Weakness
Fatigue
Cognitive impairment
Nausea
Head or neck discomfort
Postural hypotension, particularly in the elderly, may increase the risk of falls, leading to the potential for bone fractures and other injuries.

You should exercise MODERATELY (like walking) during induction.... don't start any vigorous program until after.

Hope that helps!

[havanah]

I will tell you from experience that low blood pressure is no fun, however I have low blood pressure and have had all my life, my highest BP was 110/70 and my lowest known BP was 85/40 and i am still considered healthy and in fact every time i go to the doctor they tell me my blood pressure is great! Of course anyone could live withouth the dizziness that goes along with it. And from what i read i wonder what is wrong with me, i don't experience any different feelings from when i wasn't on this way of life, does anyone else not have any uncomfortable side effects during induction, or am i doing something wrong... i eat only 16g of carbs a day, i work out three times a week, and walk twice a day. But i don't have any of the complaints that i have read about... anyway just me babbling.

[TeriDoodle]

Hi Havanah! Welcome to the forum!

I didn't have any weird side effects from Induction either.... except when I started working out I got lethargic and had headaches at night. I learned that I was dehydrated even though I was drinking 64 oz of water.... I upped it to 120 and never had a problem again. I guess we should just be grateful!! I wonder if I would have stuck it out if I'd had skull crushing headaches like some do.....

[tofi]

I have always had a normal pressure - 120/80 for all my life. When I began LCing, I regularly had a BP of 113/70 and I feel great! That's not low, that's good. Don't worry about it unless you start feeling tired, faint, dragged out or dizzy. LC is a recognized way of lowering high BP - see the Eades book Protein Power Plan where they warn that people on medication for high BP should be monitored because the meds may not be necessary and should be reduced by the doctor.

You won't go "too low" if you keep on LC. you'll just get to be on the low side of normal. In fact, your pulse rate may reduce too as your heart is relieved of the overload of fluid.



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