Is it common for blood pressure to rise after eating?

When someone measures theirblood pressure, the monitor will display two numbers. The upper number represents systolic blood pressure, when the heart is contracting. The bottom number represents diastolic blood pressure, which occurs when the heart muscles relax.

A person’s blood pressure usually drops slightly after they have eaten. A slight drop in blood pressure after eating is not the same as postprandial hypotension,which is a more significant drop in blood pressure after eating.

TheAmerican Heart Association (AHA) highlights the following ranges of blood pressure:

Anyone in ahypertensive crisis needs urgent medical attention.

Many factors can cause blood pressure to rise and fall. As long as a person’s blood pressure remains under 120/80 mm Hg, there is no cause for concern, unless they experiencesymptoms of low blood pressure.

How can eating affect your blood pressure?

When a person eats, their bodyredirects blood to the digestive tract to aiddigestion. This causes a temporary decrease in blood pressure elsewhere in the body.

To compensate, blood vessels outside the digestive tract constrict, causing the heart to beat faster and more forcefully. This helps maintain typical blood pressure throughout the body.

Some people experience a persistent drop in blood pressure after eating. This happens when the blood vessels outside the digestive system do not constrict. This is a condition called postprandial hypotension.

Postprandial hypotension is alsomore common in older adults, people taking certain medications, and people with a history of health conditions such as high blood pressure. It can depend on the type and quantity of food a person eats, hydration, and other factors.

This condition can cause complications such as:

• fainting
• falling
• nausea
• dizziness
• light-headedness
• visual disturbances
• angina, or chest pain

Fasting for long periodscan also cause a drop in blood pressure.

Reducing sodium and saturated fats are factors of a typical heart healthy diet. Sodium may directly affect blood pressure. Saturated fat intakelinks with high LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol.

Both high blood pressure and high cholesterol can increase the risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke, and tend to co-occur in the same individual.

Foods to avoid

People with elevated or high blood pressure may benefit from limiting their intake of foods that could further increase their blood pressure.

Salt

Most processed foods and pre-prepared meals contain high amounts of salt, or sodium.

TheAHA recommends that people limit their sodium intake to a maximum of 2,300 milligrams daily. The following foods tend to be high in sodium:

• ready meals
• canned soups
• canned vegetables and meats
• potato chips
• marinades and sauces

Saturated fat

A diet high in saturated fat also increases the risk of hypertension. According to theAHA, saturated fat increases the amount of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or “bad,”cholesterol in the blood.

High levels ofLDL cholesterol lead to a buildup of fatty deposits called plaques in the arteries.

Plaques narrow the arteries, leaving less space for blood to flow. The heart compensates by pumping blood more forcefully, resulting in an increase in blood pressure.

Examples offoods high in saturated fats include:

• fatty red meat
• poultry with skin
• lard
• fried foods
• butter
• cheese
• other full fat dairy products
• tropical oils, such as coconut, palm kernel, and palm oils

Foods to eat

People with hypertensionmay benefit from theDietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet.

There are no specific foods in this plan. Instead, it providesweekly and daily nutrition goals, and the details of the diet may vary from person to person.

A daily serving guide for people using the DASH diet may include:

• five servings of vegetables
• five servings of fruit
• seven servings of carbohydrates
• two servings of low fat dairy products
• up to two servings of lean meat

A2020 review suggests that the DASH diet may be as effective as or more effective than some hypertensive medications. The review also suggests thatvegetarian and vegan diets may have the potential to reduce blood pressure.

Advice on monitoring blood pressure

Blood pressure fluctuates throughout the day and night. In order to reliably monitor it, people should take readings at the same time each day.

TheAHA provides the following guidelines for measuring blood pressure at home:

• Avoid smoking, drinking alcohol, or exercising in the 30 minutes before a reading.
• Ensure that the bladder is empty.
• Sit with the back straight, the legs uncrossed, and both feet flat on the floor. Rest comfortably in this position for 5 minutes before taking a reading.
• Rest the arm on a flat surface so that the upper arm is in line with the heart.
• Place the monitor’s cuff on the upper arm, making sure that the bottom of the cuff sits just above the elbow bend. Do not take a blood pressure reading over clothing.
• Take two or three readings at 1-minute intervals, and record the average value.
• Keep a record of all readings, as this will be useful for longer-term monitoring.

When to see a doctor

All people ages20 years or older, regardless of their blood pressure status, should have a blood pressure check at least every year.

People with elevated or high blood pressure may require more regular checkups throughout the year.

People may benefit from speaking with a doctor if:

• a blood pressure reading is higher than usual, especially if unusually high readings occur more than once
• blood pressure medication is causing side effects

Ideally, a person can show their doctor a record of their blood pressure readings. This will assist in a diagnosis and ensure that the doctor is prescribing the most appropriate treatments.

Summary

A person’s blood pressure typically drops slightly following a meal. Significant drops in blood pressure after eating may indicate a condition called postprandial hypotension.

People with elevated or high blood pressure may benefit from diets such as the DASH diet. This tends to be high in vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, with moderate amounts of lean meat, low fat dairy, legumes, and nuts.

People can speak with a doctor if their blood pressure exceeds the usual range at any time, including after eating. The doctor may recommend taking medication or making certain lifestyle changes.

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