UKC

Been running all sorts of tests over the past few weeks and figured out that I have a serious problem with low blood pressure. My blood plummets into my legs whenever I climb up stairs or the gradient of a slope becomes steeper or when I start to run, sometimes even when I walk over a speedbump! I end up with heavy legs, light-headed and out of breath. Annoyingly, this does not correct itself unless I stop moving. Few seconds later I'm fine again as if nothing happened, but as soon as I walk on the same happens again. This basically means that every hike upwards consists of up to 200 steps of walking, a short break, another few steps, another short break.

This did not appear out of nowhere. I'd say it was always there. Sudden running as a small child always resulted in shortness of breath, as did walking with my parents, or track sprints at school. Heart and lungs are healthy.

I wonder if there are other people here who experience this, and if you found any solution for this. Despite my problem I do continue hiking even if people twice my age overtake me happily chatting while I can hardly get a word out, or continue running even though I cannot run fast or uphill. Eating a lot more salt seems to help somewhat. There must be other solutions though.

In reply to Orbitolina:

I get something similar, though I don't have a diagnosis to confirm precisely what it is or why it happens. I've found that aggressive hydration offers a bit of respite (I tried it working on the basis that more fluid equals more blood volume and may smooth things out a bit) - when at its worst, I'd try to get a good two litres down me before I got out the car. I've also found that increasing my dietary intake of vitamin B and occassionally supplementing it if I feel I'm slipping has had a remarkable benefit.

None of this is based on medical advice - my doctor was sympathetic but pretty useless - but it seems to work and shouldn't cause any damage from trying. Good luck!

In reply to Orbitolina:

Have you tried pressure stockings? Not saying it would work, but you could get compression socks for free from your GP.

In reply to Orbitolina:

One GP, since retired, told me that in the UK we only worry about high BP, in Germany they think high BP is good & you & I would be in intensive care; he also said that they don't really care about high or low BP in France. He also said to take more salt with food, I understand that the body strives to maintain a constant salinity, so if you put more salt in you will retain more water & this boosts BP. Another GP told me that there are pills, but GPs prefer them to be prescribed by consultants, might be worth asking about this.

In reply to Orbitolina:

Sounds like you need a cardiology appointment asap and avoid strenuous exercise?
I get hypotension when I stand from a crouched position. I put this down to having massive calves and the blood being unable to return to the heart.

In reply to Orbitolina:

You need to know the cause of it in order to fix it, sounds like it might was chronic and stable but getting more serious with age >>> see your G.P. for referral to a cardiologist as a matter of urgency. Sure, compression stockings, salt and drinking a couple of litres before exercise may help to alleviate symptoms but with the correct identification of cause and corrective treatment you may have a whole new lease on life.

D