To fix low blood pressure, you’ve got to understand what’s really causing it. If you’re dealing with lightheadedness, that drained feeling, or getting dizzy when you stand up too fast, you’re not alone. These are very common signs of Adrenal Fatigue and an overworked stress response system asking for help.
Adrenal Fatigue is often behind chronic symptoms like hypotension. So, how do you start feeling better? Let’s dive into what’s going on and look at six practical ways to get things back on track.
What Is the Cause of Low Blood Pressure in Adrenal Fatigue?
Your body is pretty amazing—it’s constantly adjusting your blood pressure so you can stay upright and keep going. This delicate balancing act is handled by your stress response system, which includes the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) and the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis. But when these systems are under constant long-term stress, things start to fall apart.
Adrenal Fatigue is often behind chronic symptoms like hypotension. Healing your dysfunctional stress response system will help to balance low blood pressure.
A big part of this process is the hormone aldosterone. It’s produced by your adrenal glands and plays a key role in managing how much salt and water your body holds onto. When you have Adrenal Fatigue, the production of aldosterone is affected.
The Domino Effect of Low Aldosterone
Weak adrenals → low aldosterone levels
Low aldosterone → reduced salt retention
Less salt → less water in the body
Less water → lower blood volume
Low blood volume → low blood pressure
This chain reaction makes it pretty clear why Adrenal Fatigue often leads to hypotension. When your blood pressure gets too low, your body kicks into overdrive to compensate—leading to symptoms like palpitations, anxiety, and that all-too-familiar “wired but tired” feeling. To fix low blood pressure, we have to focus on addressing its underlying imbalances.
Why Does Hypotension Worsen When You Stand Up?
If you’ve ever stood up too fast and felt lightheaded or dizzy, you’ve experienced orthostatic hypotension—a hallmark of Adrenal Fatigue.
When you stand, your blood vessels are supposed to constrict to maintain steady blood flow to your brain. If your stress response system isn’t functioning well, this adjustment doesn’t happen quickly enough, causing a temporary drop in blood pressure.
Your body relies on hormones like cortisol and adrenaline to narrow blood vessels and stabilize blood pressure. But with Adrenal Fatigue, this system becomes sluggish and uncoordinated, leading to delayed or exaggerated responses.
Your body’s response to these symptoms is more than an annoyance. It’s a clear signal that stress is taking a toll.
Symptoms of Low Blood Pressure with Adrenal Fatigue
Low blood pressure isn’t just a reading on a monitor—it’s something you feel daily. My patients with Adrenal Fatigue often report:
- Lightheadedness or dizziness, especially when standing
- Persistent fatigue that won’t go away with rest
- Rapid or irregular heartbeats
- Cold hands and feet, even when it’s warm
- Brain fog or difficulty concentrating
- Frequent urination, a sign of low blood volume
These symptoms provide important clues that your stress response system is struggling to regulate your blood pressure. Addressing these signs holistically is a great place to start if you’re wondering how to fix low blood pressure.
Simple changes like adding unrefined sea salt and staying hydrated can go a long way in supporting your adrenals and improving low blood pressure.
6 Ways to Fix Low Blood Pressure
Here are six practical and approachable strategies I often recommend to help you fix low blood pressure while supporting your overall healing:
Add Sea Salt to Your Diet
Salt gets a bad rap, but the right kind of salt—unrefined sea salt—can make a huge difference. This salt is full of trace minerals that your body uses to retain water and maintain healthy blood volume. A small pinch added to your water or sprinkled on meals isn’t just about flavor; it’s about easing the workload on your adrenals. If you’re like many of my patients, this simple change can be surprisingly impactful. (Check with your physician before making any changes to your diet or regimen.)
Stay Hydrated
Dehydration makes low blood pressure worse, and most of us don’t realize how much it affects our energy. Drinking water consistently throughout the day is key, but water alone might not be enough. As I said above, adding a pinch of sea salt or making your own electrolyte drink can help your body retain that hydration more effectively. Pay attention to how you feel after upping your water intake—you’ll likely notice a difference in your energy and focus. (Check with your physician before making any changes to your diet or regimen.)
Balance Your Blood Sugar
I can’t stress enough how important balancing your blood sugar is for both your energy and your adrenals. Eating small, frequent meals rich in proteins and healthy fats helps keep your blood sugar steady throughout the day, which reduces the strain on your adrenals. This isn’t about restrictive dieting—it’s about giving your body the consistent fuel it needs. Think of it as a way to stop those mid-afternoon crashes that leave you reaching for coffee or sugar. As my hypoglycemic diet says, having a small snack of protein and fat will help to keep your blood sugar balanced during the night hours, too.
Get Quality Sleep
Sleep is the foundation of recovery, and it’s something many people underestimate. Good sleep isn’t just about quantity—it’s about quality. A regular bedtime routine can help you wind down and signal to your body that it’s time to rest. Reducing stimulants like caffeine after lunch can also make a big difference. I know life gets busy, but prioritizing sleep is one of the best investments you can make in your health. You definitely want to be asleep in the 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. hours to reap the benefits of your growth hormone. Growth hormone not only supports physical repair but also helps regulate the stress response system. By promoting cellular repair and regeneration, it alleviates the wear and tear caused by chronic stress.
Take Breaks to Recalibrate
When you’re constantly “on,” your body stays stuck in stress mode, and that impacts everything, including your blood pressure. Taking regular breaks—whether it’s a short walk, five minutes of deep breathing, or even a quick pause to step outside—helps reset your stress response system. These moments of rest aren’t indulgent; they’re necessary. Think of them as little resets that give your body the space it needs to recalibrate.
Consider Targeted Supplements
Sometimes, I recommend supplements to give your adrenals a much-needed boost. But not every supplement works the same for everyone, so it’s important to find what’s right for your body. This could mean targeted vitamins, key minerals, essential fatty acids, or other specific support. When paired with foundational lifestyle changes, the right supplements can help move your healing forward.
Each of these 6 steps addresses a piece of the puzzle, helping you fix low blood pressure while supporting your body as a whole. Healing takes time, but when you focus on the root causes and give your body what it needs, you’re setting the stage for long-term health and resilience.
What Is the Cause of Low Blood Pressure with Chronic Stress?
It’s actually quite simple. Your adrenals and stress response system prioritize immediate survival over long-term health when under prolonged stress. This leads to:
- Reduced aldosterone production, impacting salt and water retention
- Impaired vasoconstriction, causing delayed blood pressure adjustments
- Chronic dehydration and low blood volume
These occurrences work together to produce the symptoms of hypotension associated with Adrenal Fatigue. To improve low blood pressure, I will treat patients by tackling the underlying dysfunctional stress response system and its impact on their body’s systems.
Now that You Know What’s Going on in Your Body
Low blood pressure is your body’s way of telling you that it’s under more stress than it can handle. This isn’t something to ignore, but it’s also not something to fear. With the right approach, you can help your body recover and restore its balance. In my practice, I’ve seen time and again how addressing the root causes of Adrenal Fatigue allows symptoms like low blood pressure to improve naturally.
Healing is a process, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. My work is centered on guiding patients toward recovery with a focus on practical tools and long-term strategies. If you’re ready to take the next step, I encourage you to explore more articles or seek support to create a plan tailored to your needs.
