Does Anemia Lead To High BP?

Posted on Tue, 19 Apr 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 19 Apr 2016 Answered on

Thu, 9 Jun 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : Can anaemia push up blood pressure? It's still elevated at 195/115 this morning. Previous blood work shows the following:
Iron : 6.0
UIBC : 60
TIBC : 66
Iron Saturation: 0.09
The figures are from a Canadian lab. Not sure if it is significant, but Calcium was 2.80
Lastly, blood sugar is between 15.0 and 19.5
XXX

Answered by Dr. Ronald Schubert (39 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Hypertension and anemia

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for contacting HCM with your health care concerns

I am sorry to hear that you are suffering from anemia and hypertension. Your anemia would cause low blood pressure not high blood pressure. You will still need to see your medical provider to find a medication that will help lower that pressure. There are numerous medications and you may need to try several until you reach your goal.

Since you have iron deficient anemia you obviously need iron. To help improve you iron stores you can eat more iron reach foods like red meat and green leafy vegetables. If your iron stores don't respond then you may need to have iron infusions but those are complicated and have sometimes severe reactions.

In summary
1. Anemia can cause low blood pressure not high blood pressure
2. See your medical provider to get medication for treatment
3. Iron rich foods Red meats and green leafy vegetables

I hope I answered your question. Please contact us again if you have any additional questions

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar