Are you a thin woman prone to feeling fatigued, light-headed, dizzy and panicked? Do you have low blood pressure, cold hands and feet, large pupils and very flexible joints? Then you may have an instability in your sympathetic nervous system.
The sympathetic nervous system is the part of the autonomic (unconscious) nervous system that releases adrenalin. When the sympathetic system is unstable, adrenalin is released too easily. This causes panic and brain fog, as well as cold hands, and low blood pressure because the blood moves away from the extremities. Low blood volume develpes because sdrenalin causes salt and water to be lost through the kidneys. People with this nervous system disorder have 20% less blood volume than normal.
The syndrome affects about 10% of the population, mostly women. It has been called many other things including anxiety neurosis, hypoglycaemia, fibromyalgia and mitral valve prolapse. (There is commonly a benign floppy heart valve associated with the syndrome.)
Adrenalin is produced by the adrenal glands, which are part of the sympathetic nervous system and the hormone system. Excessive adrenalin production will exhaust adrenal function, and the glands will then produce smaller quantities of important hormones such as testosterone, cortisol and DHEA. Hormone disorders may develop.
Women with low blood pressure syndrome may also develop acne (because the nervous system is closely tied to skin), and weight gain on lower belly due to depleted DHEA and testosterone.
The syndrome is also associated with migraine headaches, candida overgrowth, and interestingly, the formation of thyroid antibodies (as in Hashimoto's thyroid disease).
Quick Test for Low Blood Pressure Syndrome:
Your practitioner can check your blood pressure lying and then standing. It should rise slightly on standing. If it drops, you probably have the syndrome.
Conventional treatment:
Regular fluids and salt intake, beta-blockers and drugs to conserve body fluid.
Natural treatment:
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Sleep 8 hours per night. The nervous system needs sleep to rejuvenate and function. None of the following treatmens are as effective as sleep.
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Eat adequate salt. When low blood pressure syndrome is severe, salt cravings develop, but even milder symptoms benefit from regular salt intake.
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Get enough rest. The nervous system in these women likes routine and rest. One weekend away is not enough. You need to be consistently less busy.
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Avoid caffeine
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Avoid artificial sweeteners, which damage the nervous system
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Eat regularly. Women with this syndrome experience more adrenalin when their blood sugar drops. Use small regular meals and avoid refined sugar.
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Legs up the wall meditation. This is a yoga pose that will restore blood pressure the brain. Talk to your yoga instructor. You need to do it every day.
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Magnesium to stabilise the nervous system.
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Licorice root increases blood sugar and conserves adrenal hormones
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Tyrosine
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Homoeopathic medicine to stabilise the nervous system.
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Organotherapy to support the adrenal glands
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Acupuncture or Bowen therapy (available from this clinic) to relax the nervous system.
Appointments at Sensible-Alternative
For professional advice regarding low blood pressure, please make an appointment with one of our Naturopaths.
Locations in Crowsnest Pass, Canada and Sydney, Australia.
1) Dr Lara Grinevitch - Crowsnest Pass, Canada
Lara sees patients on Mondays.
Phone Crowsnest Clinic: 1 403 563 3334. (Clinic phone is attended Tuesday-Friday)
Text message or leave a voicemail on Lara's cell: 1 587 880 4436
2) Biljana Koga or Deborah Gibson - Sydney, Australia
Two Sydney locations: Chatswood - Cronulla
Sydney phone number: 02 8011 1994
To email our Sydney head office: click here.
