Food intolerances, allergies and blood pressure
A relatively large number of people suffer from allergies and/or food intolerances. It is often not considered that these can also influence blood pressure.
For example, Swiss researchers found a link between pollen allergies and blood pressure. In one study they showed that on days with high pollen counts in the air, participants blood pressure rose by about 2 mmHg systolic and 1.5 mmHg diastolic. Given the longer pollen seasons due to climate change and the large number of people affected, this can be a significant burden.
For example, Swiss researchers found a link between pollen allergies and blood pressure. In one study they showed that on days with high pollen counts in the air, participants blood pressure rose by about 2 mmHg systolic and 1.5 mmHg diastolic. Given the longer pollen seasons due to climate change and the large number of people affected, this can be a significant burden.
One patient told us that after years of unsuccessful drug treatment for High blood pressure (140150/9095), she was diagnosed with a wheat intolerance and a lactose intolerance. Just 14 days after she removed wheat and lactose from her diet, her blood pressure had normalized (around 100115/7080).
Why can the intestinal wall be damaged? Poor diet and lifestyle contribute. Alcohol, stress, medications, infections or environmental toxins can damage the intestinal lining. Other routes to developing an allergy are also described for example, inhaling pollen in the case of pollen allergy. It has been shown that inhaled fine particles (soot particles, increasingly criticized as an environmental consequence of road traffic) have a negative effect on blood pressure.
Whether its a wheat allergy, celiac disease (gluten intolerance) or lactose intolerance: all of these conditions can be accompanied by high blood pressure. Often doctors do not find the cause and treat the high blood pressure with medication instead of recommending dietary changes.
With confirmed histamine intolerance, for example, high blood pressure as well as a fast heart rate (tachycardia) and heart rhythm problems are mentioned as accompanying symptoms. With food intolerances such as lactose intolerance, low blood pressure (hypotension) and extra heartbeats (extrasystoles) have also been reported. The frequency of clinically relevant food intolerances is estimated at 1 to 2 percent of the population. Self-reported numbers are considerably higher around 10 to 20 percent. One in 200 people has celiac disease (gluten intolerance). Since only 20 percent of those affected show the full picture of the disease, side effects caused by celiac disease, such as high blood pressure, are often not linked to gluten intolerance.
Another point to consider: if you take medication for one of your allergies or intolerances, such as for histamine intolerance, it can affect blood pressure for example, if the allergy had been lowering blood pressure, treating it may lead secondarily to a rise in blood pressure.
Sources:
This article comes from BloodPressureDB – the leading app since 2011 that helps hundreds of thousands monitor their blood pressure every day.
Our content is based on carefully researched, evidence-based data and is continuously updated (as of 06/2024).
Author Sabine Croci is a qualified medical assistant with many years of experience in internal medicine and cardiology practices as well as in outpatient care, and has led BloodPressureDB's specialist editorial team since 2015. Thanks to her extensive additional qualifications as a paramedic, first responder and in various therapy and emergency areas, she provides solid, practical and reliably reviewed information.
Author Sabine Croci is a qualified medical assistant with many years of experience in internal medicine and cardiology practices as well as in outpatient care, and has led BloodPressureDB's specialist editorial team since 2015. Thanks to her extensive additional qualifications as a paramedic, first responder and in various therapy and emergency areas, she provides solid, practical and reliably reviewed information.
