Lower down high blood pressure at home in emergency Now
Note: Please remember, this post can not replace the advice of your doctor. If your doctor has advised against any advice on this page, then you should avoid it for sure. Also, rush to hospital whenever you or loved ones have high blood pressure or any other cardiac symptoms. Do not wait to follow advices of this page or any other.
Once you’re in hospital, doctors have several ways to bring your blood pressure to normal limits easily. But what if you’re home, without any medicine to lower blood pressure instantly naturally? And need to bring your severely high blood pressure within normal limits? Here are a few tricks for immediate treatment of high blood pressure.
Well there are several remedies to lower down your blood pressure at home in an emergency situation. We will be sharing some of them in this post.
How to manage high blood pressure at home in emergency
Before attempting first aid for high blood pressure at home, please note, that the tips to lower down your blood pressure in this post aren’t meant to replace specialist consultation and hospital visit in any circumstances. Please visit your nearest hospital whenever possible in case of hypertension as it may have serious outcomes.
Also remember, that some ways to bring blood pressure down immediately can be harmful to our body including brain. They can also develop hypotension (opposite of hypertension). That’s why never attempt any remedies or techniques without consultation with your doctor.
Check blood pressure and make sure
First of all, once you find out high blood pressure, note it down in a notebook with date and time with it.
Check the blood pressure of the patient using a sphygmomanometer.
Sphygmomanometer is the bp apparatus. It is used to measure blood pressure. It can be manual one that requires you to have a stethescope too, or a digital one. The digital bloodpressure monitor tells the blood pressure itself by cuffing it around the arm. You can cuff it above elbow or at wrist and turning it on, depending upon the type of the bp apparatus.
Make sure that the patient is having high blood pressure. Lowering the blood pressure when it’s not high may result in hypotension. Hypotension means abnormally lowered blood pressure and it can lead to serious complications too, including death.
So make sure that your patient is having high blood pressure. If you don’t have a bp apparatus device at home then take them to the nearest clinic or hospital to get it checked as soon as possible.
Drink lots of water to lower blood pressure in hypertension
Important Note: For patients who’re advised by their cardiologist to restriction fluid intake, they should not follow this step. Also not for anyone who is having swelling of feet, or generalized swelling in the body, dyspnea or shortness of breathness and difficulty in breathing. They should not take plenty of water too, as it can increase fluid retention in their body and lungs. For non-critical patients, and who don’t have cardiac failure, you can follow this advice.
Secondly, drink WATER, lots of it. Drinking plenty of water, going to washroom and urinate, and then repeating. It’s one of the best ways to bring down blood pressure at home if no medication is available or possibility to take the patient to the hospital is not there.
Note that don’t give the bottled water like nestle and others containing sugar in them. (Yes they do. And sugar is contraindicated in high blood pressure state).
Water is an emergency blood pressure lowering agent. It might not work to lower the blood pressure when it’s “too” high, but still lowers it to a certain degree.
Whenever you have high blood pressure and don’t have any antihypertensive medication around you, start drinking water. After 4 glass of water you will definitely feel an urge to urinate.
Recheck your blood pressure after urinating and see if it helped.
Intake of extra water causes kidneys to filter out the excess water from the body, which infact also takes out the salt from the body leading to lowering of blood pressure.
This tip is tried by me personally on my patients and it really works. We can use it when we’re out of medications at home or at some place.
There are other tips around on the internet too but haven’t tested them or heard them from any reliable source. So I’ll prefer not sharing them.
Please note, don’t give water to a patient when he is unconscious or semi conscious as it may go in his respiratory tract and cause serious complications.
Avoid Salts and Sugars
Stop giving salt, salty stuff and sugar plus sugary stuff to the patient.
Well salt is an obvious one, it elevates the blood pressure, however many people don’t know that sugar does the similar thing too. Sugar elevates the blood pressure too, so if a patient is taking care otherwise but taking sugary and sweet drinks and other stuff, then their blood pressure is going to shoot, specially if they’re prone to blood pressure rise.
Start taking antihypertensive medication or adjust the previous ones
Take the patient to the doctor as soon as possible. Get their medication adjusted if they were already taking the medicine. If they were never taking it, get it started. The doctor will explain you regarding any prerequisites or tests required for your patient. It’s important not only to control blood pressure before any surgery but also during routine life too, as abnormal blood pressure and hypertension can lead to many complications, including death.
Doctor may ask you to get bp charting done for a week at least too before starting the medicine. Simply follow whatever the cardiologist suggests.
Remember, not to wait for the home remedies to lower blood pressure to kick in and lower it for you. Get the medicine and get the blood pressure in control as soon as possible and then start shifting to blood pressure lowering remedies and the natural ways to lower blood pressure if you want to, while keeping the blood pressure in control.
Never go for self medication
Regarding self medication, remember, never take any medicine on your own and without getting the blood pressure checked. Abnormally lowered blood pressure can be damaging and can even cause death too.
Some reactive patients will react to many other stimuli throughout their daily lives and require treatment. In some cases a lower blood pressure reading occurs at the doctor’s office.
You’re right. That’s why measuring the blood pressure twice daily at distant intervals for at least a week is recommended. Both before advising and after starting the medicine. It helps to lower down the blood pressure in hypertensive patients.
my blood pressure was 188/118 at the dentist office yesterday morning so they would not pull a tooth out that is causing me to be in constant pain. i have swelling around my temple and top check bone around my right eye area due to tooth ache. what is your suggestion?
I would suggest you to visit a medical specialist or cardiologist as soon as possible so that they can help you manage your blood pressure.
I often have high blood pressure at 140 the above and 100 the second one s what should I do at sometimes when I don’t have any medicines
If it’s 140/100, then you can simply take plenty of water until you feel urge to urinate. Check the bp again after you pee and make sure that it’s under control now.
Note that this has to be simple clean water, not any drink and preferably not packaged waters like nestle, etc.
My blood pressure is pretty high I need to get it down You know a place I can go
You need to go to hospital if you’re having hypertension right now.
My blood pressure is 220/ 104 I cannot seem to get it down it keeps going up all the time every time they give you medication that doesn’t work I have autonomic failure is there anything I can take quick to put it down they tell me to eat some for you but I don’t want to eat sometime scared I’m not finding it hard to breathe and I don’t know what to do anymore I called the hospital they said there’s nothing they could do must be something I could do at home thank you Sheila
This is critically high blood pressure Sheila! Why can’t you go to hospital? And how did you check it? Get it checked from some clinic / hospital at least and then do as the doctor who sees you practically advises!
Mine is 193/123 and Im dizzy and my legs swelled up and am scared.. the dr only gave me an antibiotic assuming my legs had cellulitis (i was worried about blood clot as they are not red and itchy but burn and a pinched nerve by the groin).. all these scary articles say run to the hospital but why,.. they will just monitor you and you wont be home.. so Idk what to do. She made me an appointment for next week but im scared.
They ask you to rush to hospital so that you don’t die of a stroke of heart attack.
Avoid salt and be regular on your antihypertensive medications please.
Let’s see if I can make this short. I’m on valsartin for high BP that is caused by my thyroid being out of whack. I also was on a beta blocker but I’m now off of that for about a month. My BP is currently up again. Right now it’s 180/96 and pulse 96. I have bad headache. Is there anything I can do to get it to come down. I’m out of town for the holidays.
180/96 is too high to be sitting here and commenting imho. You should get up and go to the nearest hospital or clinic and get managed by a doctor.
Besides that, did you read this post completely? Please do once you’re feeling better so that you can avoid this condition and hypertension in future too.
Dr. Kahn,
Thank you! I did drink lots of water and the pressure did come down to a normal reading. I will be contacting the doctor when I get home.
Glad to know that. Please avoid salt too and keep checking blood pressure regularly.
My bp were 169/111 when my friend test it an hour ago. The last few day i felt like im gonna pass-out when try do do something. I drink darjeerling tea but is now a few months i didn’t drink it because of financial problems. The pills the hospital gave me dont work with me. An half hour after drink it i am screaming of headaches. Dont know what to do
Monitor your blood pressure twice a day and keep a record on paper in the form of a table.
Stop putting salt in your meals completely.
Also get your sugar levels checked for diabetes.
Keep me updated please.
hallo Dr Khan
i went to the pharmacy for another check on my bd. it were 1 o clock at 175/105. they gave me 5 emercency pills, fedaloc sr 30. at about 5 o clock i were as red as a tomato from my feet to my head. i phoned the pharmacist to ask if theres a problem and he tell me now that is that the pill work and that thar redness is a negative effect and the heavy migraine right now. im nauseas and not nice. but will keep up with the other 4 pills. i dont have a monitor but will ask my friend to help me monitor me twice a day. im raising my granddaughter which is busy with tests and speeches. i need to help het but this headache and feeling kills me. thank you so very much for be there for me/for us here. will tell you whats happening…
you need to stop talking salt completely right now and you don’t have any doctor that you can visit? Any nearest hospital? Check your email I’ve emailed you to keep in touch.
my blood pressure is too high it’s around 170/110….
i went to the doctor & for the last few days im start taking medicine (bislol 2.5) but its was still high then again went to dr. & he advise me to take “bislol 5”. last 5 days im having the medicine but still it’s around upper 160/170 & lower 100/110.
now what i’ll do?
Stop taking salt completely. Don’t add any salt to your meals when cooking them too.
Also stop eating eggs.
Take lots of water.
Tell me the improvement with these changes please.
My husband has high b/p and is on 5my lisinipril q d. Tonight, he is working and c/o excruciating head ache. I am a licensed nursing assistant so I took his b/p 160/100. I told him to start drinking water and sit for abut and try to relax. He can’t take any statins. Is there anything else I could have done?
You advised him right. What was his blood pressure after drinking 4-6 glass of water and relaxing?
It had come down some. 138/86. But I still wasn’t comfortable with it. Could I have given him his lisiniprin?
Is zofran safe to take while on lisinipril? He has been sick with nausea and diarrhea and body aches and constant headache.
It’s best to take him to a cardiologist and get an opinion from him, by letting him examine the patient live and suggesting what’s best for him :)
My granmothers bp was 200/120 at night and she was panting I was helpless what should I do in such circumstances . This was the 2nd time it happened.
You should never let this condition happen in first place. Restrict her salt intake, make her regular with antihypertensive medication and start her on regular walk.
In case the bp goes that high, rush to the nearest hospital.
My husband is 37 n his blood pressure is always between 160/120-180/130 n today 185/125… n his expression scared me today. I called up a local doctor he told me to gv da medicine… which he had in da morning but strange it didn’t work much… I tried acupuncture, soaking feet in water, breathing exercises… now it has reduced to 170…he is having Telma 80n still not dat good I guess… n m worried about da side effects… (kedney failure) dat I have heard…. his weight has raised to 95… I send him to gym but I heard its not good for his health. Wat do I do? Help me.
You should make him visit a cardiologist or a medical specialist as soon as possible so that they can adjust his medicine to control his blood pressure within normal range.
What if someone have blood pressure of 240/120mmgh and was advice to go hospital refused because she does not have money. What help can ton give the patient?
The best help you can give to that person is to give them money or to take them to a public / free hospital where a professional can see them before they die or get any other permanent damage.
My mom has trouble sleeping due to high blood pressure. She’s walking and she’s drinking alot of water but she still feels uncomfortable or disturbed. Is there anything we can do to help bring it down quickly and safely?
How much was her BP? Is she taking regular BP medicine?
My moms blood pressure is 186/102. what can we do to bring it down at home
This is very high blood pressure. You should take her to the hospital in this condition asap.
My blood pressure is 150/90 should I start taking medicine to lower it down? Or eating healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables and drinking lots of water 30 minutes exercise daily is OK without taking medicine?
You should start making a chart of your blood pressure for 10 days or so. Make changes to diet, reduce salt and increase water and walk, and then see if it goes below 140/xx. If it doesn’t then take that bp chart to your doctor to get an advice and possibly a medicine.
My B/P is in the 170’s on waking ,headache ,neck pain .I am 82 yrs. old .I take Bystolic 5 mg at bedtime
5′ 1 & 158 lbs. major stress daily .Husband amputee, aortic valve replacement ,daily doctor, rehabilitation, He has major blockages ,ETC. I also have COPD .Any suggestions ?
You bp issue can be due to stress too. Ask your doctor if he thinks that prescribing anxiolitic (anti anxiety drugs) will help lower your blood pressure too.
Dr. Khan,
My husband has been experiencing BP spikes off and on throughout the last few months. He sees a cardiologist, I take him to the ER when it gets over 160/100. He spent a day and half having his BP monitored in the hospital. He can feel it when it is up which makes him anxious which in turn raises his pressure even more. He is very cardiac aware! The medications prescribed work for a few days but then we start the cycle over again. He has only one kidney, had 2 heart attacks in January of 2018 had a stent placed, but never felt as good as he thought he should. He eats much healthier and has lost 20 pounds, goes to cardiac rehab 2-3 x per week, walks on the treadmill when he misses a day at rehab. He gets dizzy and SOB often. What do you think? I’m wondering if he should see an Endocrinologist?
It’s very hard to give advice about him without seeing the patient. However an unstable blood pressure in a patient who had angioplasty in past, is not a good thing.
Please answer these questions and then we can discuss further. However please note, nothing can replace his physical visit to a cardiologist. Also note, that patients are managed differently in emergency and much better in OPD in day time. So take him to a senior cardiologist and get his medicines revised too.
1. Is he taking any regular blood pressure medicine?
2. What are the medicines that he’s using on daily basis?
3. does he get SOB at rest too? or when doing the treadmill / exercise?
4. how many stents did he get? and in which vessel?
5. does he have swelling in feets?
my blood pressure is 149/88 I an 72 and take amiodipine is that ok
Amlodipine is a pretty standard blood pressure lowering drug prescribed to patients with hypertension. However, do remember that medicines can have side effects too. So if you see any symptoms including swelling of your feet or generalized swelling in the body, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, then you should visit your cardiologist and get the medicine reviewed or changed, as he sees fit for your condition.
this “advice” would send thousands of people like me to the hospital. like many chf patients, i am on a FLUID RESTRICTION and excess fluid causes edema, and that edema can raise BP. most hf patients are on diuretics for just that reason. shame on you
Thank you for commenting Dana.
If a patient has swelling of feets or generalized body swelling, then yes they should restrict the fluid. The advice on this post is not for patients who are already advised to restrict fluid intake.
Hi Dr Khan. Your water therapy works! Thank you. I have a question – I’m on lozartan 75mg/day and generally BP under control (120:75); HOWEVER about once a week (or two) it can shoot up to 150:90 and stays for about 3 hrs + then normal, for no apparent reason. Would this pattern be considered acceptable BP management and safe?
Hi Paul. The bp can rise sometimes if you delay the medication, as it gets washed off from the system till the time of next dose. Secondly, having 150/90 is not a big issue if it’s occasional. However, you should try to find the cause, it can be stress, extra salty or sugary diet the day before, etc. So optimize your diet and salt intake accordingly so that the bp remains in healthy range. Remember, do not cut off the salt completely, as it can have serious side effects too.
Thanks for the info, it’s very informative and does help me lower blood pressure.
Thank you for the feedback. However please do get medicines if you constantly have higher blood pressure.