The Short Answer: Low blood pressure can impair brain function and increase mortality risk, particularly when combined with autoimmune conditions or chronic illness. Adrenal fatigue, often triggered by chronic stress, inflammation, and autoimmunity, is the most common functional medicine cause. Addressing underlying stress, blood sugar stability, and immune health can help restore healthy blood pressure.

People have good reason to worry about high blood pressure, as it increases the risk for serious disease. However, low blood pressure also carries significant health risks; it can impair brain function and increase your mortality risk.

What is low blood pressure? If either number deviates by more than 10 points from 120/80, which is considered healthy blood pressure, you may be experiencing symptoms of low blood pressure.

For people managing autoimmune conditions like Hashimoto’s low thyroid, unaddressed low blood pressure compounds existing problems with energy, circulation, and cognitive function.

How blood pressure supports whole-body health

Blood pressure is essential for pushing blood through 100,000 miles of veins, arteries, and capillaries. These vessels deliver oxygen, nutrients, immune cells, hormones, neurotransmitters, and other vital compounds to tissues throughout your body.

When blood pressure runs too high, it strains blood vessel walls. When it’s too low, insufficient blood reaches capillaries and tissues, particularly in your hands, feet, and brain. Oxygen and nutrient deprivation in these areas can lead to cold extremities, chronic fungal infections, fatigue, and reduced cognitive clarity.

Adrenal fatigue as the root cause of low blood pressure

In functional medicine, adrenal fatigue is the most common cause of low blood pressure in autoimmune and chronic illness populations.

The adrenal glands, walnut-sized organs sitting atop your kidneys, regulate both stress hormones and blood pressure. Many people develop adrenal fatigue from chronic stress, which extends far beyond feeling overwhelmed. Other physical stressors include poor diet, blood sugar instability, chronic infections, gut dysfunction, chronic inflammation, and autoimmunity, such as Hashimoto’s low thyroid.

Symptoms of adrenal fatigue include persistent fatigue, low blood sugar, lightheadedness or irritability between meals, recurrent infections, and low blood pressure. People with autoimmune conditions, particularly those with Hashimoto’s low thyroid, frequently experience adrenal fatigue.

Orthostatic hypotension: Dizziness upon standing

Orthostatic hypotension is a common type of low blood pressure that occurs when you stand up. Blood pools in your legs, and circulation to your heart and brain lags, causing lightheadedness or a sensation of faintness. A formal diagnosis occurs when your systolic (top) number drops 20+ points, and your diastolic (bottom) number drops 10+ points upon standing.

Orthostatic hypotension is particularly dangerous if it causes fainting or falls, especially for older adults. While it frequently co-occurs with low blood sugar and chronic low blood pressure, people with high blood pressure can also experience it.

Functional medicine strategies to support healthy blood pressure

Assess adrenal function. If you have low blood pressure with signs of adrenal fatigue, consider an adrenal saliva test. This measures cortisol levels throughout the day, helping you target treatment more precisely. Repeat testing shows whether your protocol is working.

Optimize salt intake. While high blood pressure typically requires salt restriction, quality sea salt can help raise genuinely low blood pressure. Many people with low blood pressure naturally crave salt, which is a sign that your body recognizes this need.

Use targeted supplementation. Licorice root extract, also known as glycyrrhiza, extends cortisol’s active lifespan, which can improve blood volume, electrolyte balance, and blood pressure.

Address the root cause. The most important step is identifying what’s driving adrenal fatigue; it’s always secondary to another condition.

Stabilizing blood sugar to support blood pressure recovery

One of the most common causes of adrenal fatigue is blood sugar instability, often from eating excess sweets and starches, skipping meals, or under-eating. Practical strategies include:

• Eating a substantial, protein-rich breakfast
• Avoiding sweetened drinks and desserts
• Reducing refined carbohydrates
• Eating at regular intervals to maintain stable blood sugar

These dietary changes also support immune balance and reduce inflammation, benefits that extend across autoimmune conditions, including Hashimoto’s low thyroid.

Autoimmunity’s role in blood pressure dysregulation

Autoimmune thyroid disease, like Hashimoto’s creates a cascade of metabolic stress. The chronic immune activation and inflammation that characterizes autoimmunity directly stress the adrenal system. Functional medicine addresses these by simultaneously targeting thyroid function, immune dysregulation, and chronic inflammation. Managing these interconnected factors reduces adrenal burden and supports blood pressure recovery.

Contact RedRiver Health and Wellness to work with a functional medicine doctor who understands how autoimmunity and adrenal function interconnect with blood pressure regulation.