Height and blood pressure

I am only five feet tall. My blood pressure tends to be low, usually ranging from 80-100/60-50.

Every doctor I have seen in the US has told me that my BP is right for my height; it can be low because my heart doesn't have to do as much work to pump the blood up to my head and to my extremities because there is less distance to travel. (Compare giraffes, which have the highest BP of any animal.)

On the other hand, when I recently registered at my new surgery here in the UK, the GP took my BP and asked if I knew how low it was.  I said, yes, and that I have always been told that it was supposed to be low because of how short I am.  The GP said he had never heard of that.

I have since been told by a nutritionist that I should be taking supplements to help my thyroid and adrenal function in order to make my BP go up, as if my low BP means there is something wrong with me.

I have a family history of heart disease and do not want to give myself a heart attack by intentionally doing things to raise my BP if it isn't necessary.

The only problem I have with my BP as it is now is that I can't handle being in a hot, steamy room, which I have no intention of doing anyway.

Any opinions?

Hmmm, I have low BP as well, nearly as low as yours, actually, but I'm 5'4''.  All of my previous doctors have checked to make sure it isn't causing me problems (it doesn't, I have fainted a few times in my life if ill and if I get up too quickly, but that's about it). None of them mentioned a height connection though.
My GP here commented on it, and made sure to put a highlighted  note in my file to make sure it was taken into consideration if I went on any medications (at one point I needed a beta-blocker for something, but they can lower BP). Can you ask for a 2nd opinion? No one has ever tried to raise my BP as it wasn't causing me any trouble, but they are all very careful to keep it in consideration.
Also, isn't it nutritionists that don't need medical degrees? Whereas dieticians do. That might be something to consider.

I am 5'2" and have blood pressure around the same as you.  I have never been told the height thing.  I googled it and saw nothing related to adults, though found a few articles on BP and height in children.

My experience is similar to Jennie's.  They note it in my file because sometimes it can be a problem but equally so that no one immediately worries if my blood pressure is on the low side.  I have never had anyone try to manipulate it though.

I'm just under five feet and was only told today that I have a low blood pressure, lol. Considering I've had my blood pressure taken for years and no one has said anything negative about it or told me I should try to raise it, I'm not bothering with it.

You can always have a read through this prior to seeking a second opinion on that advice: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Blood-pressure-(low)/Pages/Introduction.aspx

I only read part of it, but this bit stands out most:

If you have low blood pressure according to this guide, you do not need to worry. Having low blood pressure is considered healthy as it protects you from the risks and diseases of high blood pressure. You will only need to have treatment if you are experiencing symptoms as a result of your low blood pressure.

I'm another one with low blood pressure, and it's only been an issue once.  My normal BP would be right around 80-90/60.  After I had my son via c-section, I had a bit of a tiff with the midwife who insisted that my BP was low because I was dehydrated and refused to take the IV out.  I kept trying to tell her it was normal for me, and she ignored it until I insisted that she have a look through my chart.  My highest BP reading was the week before I had DS at 38 weeks pregnant, and it was 100/70.

I've found that if someone new takes my BP and it's low, they'll usually just ask if that is normal for me, and when I say yes, they are totally okay with it.

I'm only 5'2" and I've always known my blood pressure was on the low side, but I didn't realise how low until I tried out a BP monitor on a work training day last week and it came up as 93/57! My doctor has never said anything about my BP, other than that I'm not in any danger of high blood pressure, but I have been feeling dizzy and lightheaded lately, so maybe it is too low. I haven't heard about BP being related to height at all before though.

The spokesperson for the BP Monitor company at training last week was saying that there is no limit for 'too low' blood pressure and it's only a problem if you experience symptoms associated with low blood pressure... which is basically exactly what elle.davis's quote from NHS Direct says too. If you feel fine, then having low blood pressure is nothing to worry about.

My situation is similar to many here.  I'm 5'2" and have always had low blood pressure.  I don't know the exact numbers, but doctors who are new to me always end up taking it twice to be sure, but no-one has ever said anything to me that would indicate they were worried about it.  Some even seem to think it's a good thing. 

I've never heard the height thing. 

I also have problems being in a hot steamy room for too long, never knew it was probably related to my blood pressure! 

There is also a history of heart disease in my family so I'd be wary of doing anything to change my blood pressure, especially if that involved drugs.  I could see perhaps taking herbs, supplements, food (not including salt!) to support the thyroid, but not drugs to specifically raise the blood pressure.

My aunt is quite tall (around 5'9") and she has low blood pressure...but it's still considered "normal".  Along with pp, I've never heard of any correlation between bp and height.  She's on medication because her pulse is too low which causes her to pass out.

I agree with you and the others that I would be more concerned with making your blood pressure too high and the huge list of complications that can come with that.

Slightly off-topic but.....

I was in Boots today (which is always a total madhouse) looking at lipsticks and got down on my knees to look a ones on the bottom shelf, then when I stood up I felt like I was going to pass out.  This has happened to me before, but not for a long time.  I didn't know if it was related to low blood pressure or perhaps low blood sugar.

Anyone else with low blood pressure experience anything similar?

Andee - yep, I get this exactly and mine is definitely bp related.

Andee - yep, I get this exactly and mine is definitely bp related.

Ah, good to know, thanks Sara.

This is interesting.  I'm 5'8" and my bp is on the low end of normal. Like 112/60.  I often get lightheaded when I stand up suddenly, I don't feel like I'm going to faint, but I can't see for a few seconds until the blood comes back up to my head.  I thought this was normal, and happened to everybody.

It is normal, but it doesn't happen to everyone.