Food intolerances, allergies and blood pressure
A fairly large number of people suffer from allergies and/or food intolerances. The fact that these can also affect blood pressure is often overlooked.
Swiss researchers were able to find a link between pollen allergies and blood pressure. In one study they showed that participants blood pressure rose on days with a high pollen concentration in the air systolic by about 2 mmHg and diastolic by about 1.5 mmHg. Given that pollen seasons are getting longer due to climate change and that so many people are affected, this represents a considerable burden.
Swiss researchers were able to find a link between pollen allergies and blood pressure. In one study they showed that participants blood pressure rose on days with a high pollen concentration in the air systolic by about 2 mmHg and diastolic by about 1.5 mmHg. Given that pollen seasons are getting longer due to climate change and that so many people are affected, this represents a considerable burden.
One patient told us that after years of unsuccessful drug treatment for high blood pressure (140-150/90-95) 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 returned to normal (around 100-115/70-80).
Why can the intestinal lining be damaged? Poor diet and lifestyle contribute. Alcohol, stress, medications, infections or environmental toxins can harm the gut lining. Other routes to developing an allergy have also been described for example, inhaling pollen in the case of pollen allergy. It has been shown that inhaled fine particulate matter (soot particles, increasingly criticized as an environmental consequence of road traffic) has 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 dont find the underlying cause and treat the high blood pressure with medication instead of recommending dietary changes.
With a diagnosed histamine intolerance, high blood pressure as well as tachycardia and heart rhythm disturbances are reported among the accompanying symptoms. For food intolerances like lactose intolerance, hypotension and premature beats (extrasystoles) have also been reported. The prevalence of clinically relevant food intolerances is estimated at 1 to 2 percent of the population. Self-reported numbers are much higher around 10 to 20 percent. One in 200 people has celiac disease (gluten intolerance). Because only 20 percent of those affected show the full clinical picture, celiac-related conditions such as high blood pressure are often not linked to gluten intolerance.
Another aspect to consider: if you take medication for one of your allergies or intolerances for example for histamine intolerance and that medication has been responsible for lowering your blood pressure, this can secondarily lead to an increase in blood pressure.
Sources:
This article comes from BloodPressureDB – the leading app since 2011 that helps hundreds of thousands of people monitor their blood pressure every day.
Our content is based on carefully researched, evidence-based information and is continuously updated (as of 01/2026).
Author Sabine Croci is a certified medical assistant with many years of experience in internal medicine and cardiology practices as well as in outpatient care. Since 2015 she has led the editorial team at BloodPressureDB. With additional qualifications as a paramedic, first responder, and training in various therapy and emergency areas, she provides well-founded, practical, and reliably reviewed information.
Author Sabine Croci is a certified medical assistant with many years of experience in internal medicine and cardiology practices as well as in outpatient care. Since 2015 she has led the editorial team at BloodPressureDB. With additional qualifications as a paramedic, first responder, and training in various therapy and emergency areas, she provides well-founded, practical, and reliably reviewed information.
