A minimum blood pressure of 11/7 is necessary for optimal health. If your blood pressure is lower than that, you can take the following steps:

– Add extra salt to your food.

– Drink more water or licorice tea (or take licorice root extract in capsule form).

– A low dose of fludrocortisone (50–150 micrograms per day) may be helpful. Fludrocortisone does not have the side effects of synthetic cortisone. It has an aldosterone-like effect, which raises blood pressure. Fludrocortisone is available only by prescription.