A person’s blood pressure tends to dip slightly after eating, but certain foods, such as salt and saturated fats, can cause blood pressure to rise after a meal.
In some people, the rise in blood pressure after eating exceeds the typical range. The medical name for high blood pressure is hypertension.
Hypertension can lead to health issues such as heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes. People may be able to reduce their blood pressure by making lifestyle and dietary changes.
When someone measures their blood 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,
The
| Range | Systolic millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) | and, or | diastolic mm Hg |
|---|---|---|---|
| normal | less than 120 | and | less than 80 |
| elevated | 120 to 129 | and | less than 80 |
| stage one hypertension | 130 to 139 | or | 80 to 89 |
| stage two hypertension | 140 or more | or | 90 or more |
| hypertensive crisis | 180 or more | and/or | 120 or more |
Anyone in a hypertensive 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 experience symptoms of low blood pressure.
When a person eats, their body redirects blood to the digestive tract to aid digestion. 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 also more 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 periods
Reducing sodium and saturated fats are factors of a typical heart healthy diet. Sodium may directly affect blood pressure. Saturated fat intake
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.
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.
The
- 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 the
High levels of LDL 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 of foods 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
Optum Perks is owned by RVO Health. By clicking on this link, we may receive a commission. Learn more.
People with hypertension
There are no specific foods in this plan. Instead, it provides
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
A
Blood pressure fluctuates throughout the day and night. In order to reliably monitor it, people should take readings at the same time each day.
The
- 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.
All people ages
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.
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.