Postprandial hypotension is low blood pressure after a meal. This condition can manifest itself as dizziness or lightheadedness and affects nearly one-third of older men and women.
Proper digestion is accomplished when the functioning of the digestive, nervous, and circulatory systems is precisely coordinated. Extra blood is directed to the intestines and stomach. To compensate for this diversion of blood circulation, the heart beats faster and blood vessels narrow. This helps maintain blood pressure to other parts of the body.
If the blood vessels and the heart do not respond the way they should, one may experience low blood pressure elsewhere in the body while the digestive organs are completing the process of digestion. This can lead to symptoms associated with low blood pressure.
Causes and symptoms of postprandial hypotension
Although researchers and doctors know how postprandial hypotension occurs, they are unsure why. The condition itself is caused by pooling of blood in abdominal organs during the digestive process. As a result, less blood is available for circulation, and the blood pressure drops upon standing up.
It is normal for some blood to pool in the abdominal organs, but in the case of postprandial hypotension this pooling becomes exaggerated.
Eating certain foods – with carbohydrates being a notable example – has been seen to worsen postprandial hypotension. This has led some researchers to believe that some people with postprandial hypotension release insulin or other chemicals as a response to ingested carbohydrates. This contributes to the drop in blood pressure and doesn’t allow circulation to be compensated.
Symptoms of postprandial hypotension include dizziness, lightheadedness, and weakness upon standing up within 30 to 60 minutes after consuming a meal. Symptoms may be more severe after consuming a larger meal or eating a meal that includes more carbohydrates or alcohol.
Treatment options for postprandial hypotension
You can’t really do anything about your postprandial hypotension episode, but you can prevent it. Postprandial hypotension can be prevented by consuming water before meals, cutting the portion size, consuming fewer rapidly digested carbohydrates (which include white rice, potatoes, highly refined flour, and sugary beverages), or waiting between 30 to 60 minutes before getting up after a meal.