LOW BP, POTS, AND DYSAUTONOMIA
Updated: Oct 20
I learned something this week from my primary doctor that made so much sense to me, and hopefully it will help me and someone here.
I've had some scary low blood pressure drops since I got Lyme, caused by POTS. I eventually found solutions to keep my electrolytes balanced and my blood pressure up to 100/60, and I've mostly managed well. Trust me, I've been in some BAD, scary places with this issue. So, to make my long story longer, I felt quite in control of managing it until this week.
I had an appointment with my primary doctor since my cardiologist was out of the office. After the appointment, I realized I had caused the issue with my choices.
She started by asking if I eat many packaged or processed foods. I answered, "Not a lot. I mostly eat something I throw together or in whole food form." I eat healthy most of the time, but sometimes eat more processed foods. I knew this, but it was starting to get my interest.
She said my electrolyte packets are vital as a boost, for prevention, and as a quick fix, but they're only a fraction of what I need daily. I had been skipping electrolytes every other day because I figured with cooler weather, I wouldn't need as much.
We went over what I had eaten that day, since the appointment was at 2 pm. Well, I had under 25 mg of sodium! She told me to fill a little container each day with one teaspoon of salt, add it to my meals, and keep up with my electrolytes too.
The next day I tried, and realized that by 4 pm I'd probably only had about 200 mg (including 160 from my electrolytes), and I had a very full container of salt left by bedtime. These steps help me keep an eye on it.
Sorry for the length of this post, but hopefully it can help at least one person!
Short on time or energy? A quick-view graphic with the key points is at the bottom of this post.
THE SALT CONTAINER TIP
-One level teaspoon of salt is about 6 grams (PoTS UK).
-PoTS UK suggests 6 to 10 grams of extra salt a day for adults with POTS, and Cleveland Clinic suggests 3,000 to 10,000 mg of sodium a day. Your doctor can help you find your number.
-If you have heart or kidney disease or high blood pressure, talk with your doctor before adding salt.
LOW BLOOD PRESSURE VS. POTS
-Orthostatic hypotension means your blood pressure drops at least 20 points (top number) or 10 points (bottom number) within 3 minutes of standing (Johns Hopkins).
-With POTS, the heart rate jumps when standing, usually without that big blood pressure drop (CMAJ 2022).
-Some people, like me, deal with low blood pressure and a fast heart rate. Your doctor can help sort out what's going on.
RELATED POSTS
POTS - Possible Solutions
POTS / Dysautonomia
POTS Causes and Symptoms
Vertigo and Dizziness
Blood Pressure Issues - Possible Solutions
Electrolytes
POTS Directory (all my POTS posts in one place)
SOURCES
PoTS UK - Diet and Fluids (March 2023)
Cleveland Clinic - POTS (reviewed 2026)
Johns Hopkins Medicine - POTS (2026)
CMAJ - Diagnosis and Management of POTS (March 2022)
Disclaimer: Rise Above Lyme makes no claims about any possible benefit of using any product mentioned within this site. Always consult with your doctor before adding anything. The information shared is based on personal experience, years of accumulated researched resources from Lyme Literate doctors and polls conducted within Lyme groups from actual patient experience using these solution ideas.
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