How to Lower Blood Pressure Instantly in an Emergency?

Table of Content

• What is High Blood Pressure?

• Signs and Causes of Sudden High Blood Pressure

• 5 High Blood Pressure Treatment at Home

• Risk factors of High Blood Pressure

• Take-home points

• FAQ on How to lower Blood pressure Instantly in an emergency

Introduction

High blood pressure or hypertension affects around three in ten Indians and is estimated to cause around 17.5% of all deaths every year. Complications of high blood pressure (like stroke or heart attack) need immediate medical attention but we don't receive it instantly. To prevent any organ damage due to high bp levels, we need some home remedies to lower blood pressure in emergencies. Here are some of the tricks to lower blood pressure instantly in a crisis. 

What is High Blood Pressure?

Blood Pressure is the amount of pressure exerted by the blood on the walls of blood vessels. The normal blood pressure of a healthy adult is 120/80 mm Hg, which when exceeded causes hypertension or high blood pressure. People with high bp are often advised to change their lifestyle habits and also to take some prescribed antihypertensive medications. When patients skip this advice, there is a high chance of an instant surge in high blood pressure. In these situations, you can use some low blood pressure emergency treatments at home. In this article, you will get to know the methods to reduce your high bp instantly. 

Signs and Causes of Sudden High Blood Pressure

Sudden high blood pressure can have various reasons, the most common ones are sleep apnea and kidney diseases. For the emergency treatment of high blood pressure at home, you should first recognize the signs of sudden high blood pressure. Some common ones are,

• Headache 

• Blurred vision 

• Nausea and vomiting

• Shortness of breath

• Flushed face 

• Chest pain 

• Loss of balance

Don’t fret if you experience these symptoms suddenly! Read on the blog to know the home remedies to lower blood pressure in emergencies. But remember that these symptoms require immediate medical intervention and these remedies are just to lower blood pressure instantly in an emergency before the actual medical help arrives.

5 High Blood Pressure Treatment at Home

These are some of the steps you can follow for immediate treatment for high blood pressure at home before the medical assistance,

1. Calm yourself

The primary step in immediate treatment for high blood pressure at home is to calm yourself as it brings the heart rate down. The best way to calm yourself is by doing breathing exercises. Just hold your breath for a few seconds and then release them while closing your eyes. This can provide relief from building stress on your body. 

2 Lying down

In case of treating high blood pressure immediately at home in emergencies, lying down is better than sitting in uncomfortable positions. You can just lie over your left side and do deep breathing exercises. It really helps in lowering blood pressure immediately before the medical test arrives.

3. Taking Anti – Hypertensive medications

If your doctor has already prescribed you some anti-hypertensive medications, they can help to lower blood pressure instantly. These can be losartan or hydrochlorothiazide. However, don’t consume any medications without proper prescription as they can result even in organ failures.

4. Have some Herbal teas

Herbal teas like chamomile tea and hibiscus tea are said to really have a calming effect due to their rich antioxidants. These can really help in lowering blood pressure at home even in emergencies. But you should refrain from taking black teas or coffee as they can increase heart rate and aggravate high blood pressure.

5. Have some dark chocolate

Chocolates are mood-boosting foods that release endorphins which greatly helps in emergency treatment for high blood pressure at home. But try to have the dark chocolates with less added sugars so that you don’t spike the blood sugar levels.  

Even if your blood pressure lowers instantly by following these home remedies, it is better to call for medical consultation. Because remember high blood pressure is a renowned 'silent killer'!

Risk factors of High Blood Pressure

"Prevention is better than cure" – it is better to avoid high blood pressure than thinking about home remedies to lower blood pressure in an emergency. Isn’t it? These are some of the risk factors that can possibly contribute to high bp,

• High intake of salts   

• Obesity

• Smoking 

• Lack of physical exercise 

• Alcohol consumption 

• Stress

• Sleep deprivation

Even if you are already suffering from hypertension, you can control high bp over time (though not instantly) by avoiding these risk factors.

Take-home points

• The normal bp level of a healthy adult is 120/80 which when increased from normal value causes hypertension or high blood pressure.

• Some of the symptoms that indicate hypertensive emergencies are headache, blurred vision, shortness of breath, flushed face, chest pain and loss of balance.

• Some of the emergency treatments for high blood pressure at home include lying down on the left side of the body, breathing exercises, hibiscus or chamomile tea and dark chocolates.

FAQ on How to lower Blood pressure Instantly in an emergency

1. What are some tricks to lower blood pressure instantly at home?

Ans. The primary treatment to lower blood pressure instantly in an emergency is to stay calm and lie on the left side of the body. Focusing on your breathing can actually lower your blood pressure pretty quickly.

2. Does drinking water lower blood pressure immediately?

Ans. Water can help in electrolyte balance which can do a great deal of help to lower blood pressure instantly at home in emergencies.

3. Does lemon water lower blood pressure immediately?

Ans. Lemon water is rich in calcium and potassium which can reduce blood pressure during emergencies. They can even help in maintaining normal pressure values. 

4. What are some home remedies to instantly lower blood pressure in an emergency?

Ans. Breathing exercises, chamomile tea, antihypertensive medicines and dark chocolates can help to lower blood pressure immediately in an emergency.  

5. Does a warm shower lower blood pressure quickly?

Ans. Having a warm bath can increase your heart rate which can higher your blood pressure. So, it’s better to avoid them when you are having elevated blood pressure. 

6. Does bananas help in the emergency treatment of high blood pressure?

Ans. Since bananas are rich in potassium they support heart health and helps in the emergency treatment of high blood pressure at home.

7. What foods reduce high blood pressure instantly?

Ans. Melons, bananas, nuts, salmon, tuna, seeds and green leafy vegetables are known to help in the immediate treatment of high blood pressure at home

• Treatment of Hypertensive Emergencies

• Blood Pressure and Hypertension