| How to Treat Low Blood Pressure Naturally Posted: 27 Jun 2020 05:00 PM PDT If your blood pressure numbers are too low, it can make it difficult to get through your day. It can also lead to a variety of other health problems if you don't address the issue and it is left untreated. If your blood pressure is low, you may feel dizzy, confused, or have trouble concentrating on basic tasks. Generally speaking, a reading of 90/60 or lower is a sign that you have low blood pressure. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take on your own to help raise blood pressure to a consistent level. See your doctor to discuss your blood pressure and seek emergency medical care if you experience any serious symptoms. [Edit]Increasing Your Blood Pressure - Drink more water slowly over the course of the day. Drinking water is good for you to begin with, but it can help raise your blood pressure if it is too low. Keep a cup of water next to you at all times and sip on it slowly throughout the day. This may not have as pronounced of an effect if you're younger than 40, but it's still a healthy, risk-free way to raise your blood pressure a little.[1]
- Aim to drink about of water daily. If you're active or feel thirsty, increase your water intake to stay hydrated.
- Excessive thirst is a common symptom of low blood pressure, so this should help alleviate the symptom as well.
- If you get sick of boring old water, go ahead and squirt some lime or lemon juice into the water to give it some flavor.
- Wear compression stockings to increase your pressure slightly. Pick up some compression stockings that fit tight, but don't hurt to wear. These special socks can help increase blood pressure by keeping the blood in your legs from pooling up in your feet.[2]
- Maintain a low-fat diet full of fish, chicken, nuts, and vegetables. Eat a variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean chicken, or fish. This is a good habit to begin with, but it's especially helpful if you have low blood pressure. Eating a healthy, low-fat diet is an effective way to ensure that your arteries stay healthy and efficient, which is often a problem for people with low blood pressure.[3]
- Carbohydrates, sugar, and saturated fats may make your low blood pressure worse. Avoid junk food and sugary drinks as often as possible. Limit the amount of red meat you eat and use lean white meat and fish instead. A turkey or salmon burger can be just as good as beef burger!
- Other great options include cereal, eggs, and anything with dairy in it. Cheese is a great snack if you have low blood pressure,
- Oatmeal with some bananas is a phenomenal breakfast or lunch if you're looking for a filling option.
- Eat 4-5 smaller meals instead of 2-3 bigger meals to stabilize spikes. When you eat a large meal, your blood pressure may go up and down rapidly as your body digests the food. Eating smaller meals more frequently is a great way to keep your blood pressure stable over the course of the day. Keep snacks nearby and eat smaller portions to fit in more meals.[4]
- Increase your daily salt intake after talking to your doctor. Simply put, the medical consensus is that too much salt is bad for you. However, for people with low blood pressure, a little extra salt is an efficient way to raise your blood pressure. Talk to your doctor to assess how much salt you should add to your diet, since the amount you can safely consume depends on other health factors.[5]
- Do not skip talking to your doctor about this before significantly raising your sodium intake since there are a variety of other health issues that can be triggered by excess salt. Eating too much salt for a longer period of time can lead to kidney disease, strokes, or spikes in your blood pressure.[6]
- If you do start increasing your sodium intake to raise your blood pressure, make sure you continue monitoring your blood pressure regularly.
- Shift your position regularly to keep symptoms at bay. Your blood may clot in certain parts of your body when you're sitting, lying down, or standing in a position for too long. To keep your symptoms from getting worse, change your position every 15-30 minutes. Even small shifts will radically help you from getting dizzy or feeling out of it.[7]
- When you stand up, do it slowly. You're more likely to faint or get dizzy when you stand if you have low blood pressure.
- Limit your alcohol consumption to keep your blood pressure stable. Aside from the fact that it's generally not good for your health, drinking a lot of alcohol can drastically lower your blood pressure. Alcohol is a depressant, which causes your blood flow to slow down a little. Consume no more than 1 alcoholic beverage a night to keep your blood pressure safe.[8]
- It's particularly important to avoid shots and drinks with a lot of hard liquor. Drinking a lot of alcohol quickly can trigger a sudden drop in blood pressure.
[Edit]Checking Your Blood Pressure - See your doctor if you want the most accurate blood pressure reading possible. When you get a regular checkup, the nurse will almost always take your blood pressure before the doctor comes in. Ask for the reading after the nurse takes your blood pressure and discuss the results with your doctor. This is the best way to get an accurate reading and sound medical advice at the same time.[9]
- If you aren't having any symptoms of low blood pressure, like dizziness or fatigue, it's probably fine to just wait for your next physical to get your blood pressure taken.
- Check your pressure using the machine at a drug store for a general estimate. Many local drug stores and pharmacies have machines that you can use for free to check your blood pressure. Simply slide your arm into the opening and press the start button to wait for the machine to take your reading. This is a great way to get a basic idea of where you're blood pressure is at.[10]
- If nobody is waiting to use the machine, sit down for 5 minutes or so before taking your blood pressure to get a more accurate reading.
- Buy a blood pressure monitor if you want to take regular readings at home. These are available from nearly every pharmacy or supermarket, and can cost as little as $20. These devices are a great way to keep track of your blood pressure numbers from the comfort of your own home. Simply wrap the band around your bicep and turn the machine on to take your reading.[11]
- Sit still and relax for 5 minutes before you take your blood pressure so that physical exertion doesn't affect your reading. Additionally, put your feet flat against your floor while you take the reading and don't cross your legs.
- Recognize that a reading lower than 90/60 indicates low blood pressure. When checking your blood pressure, the systolic reading, which is the top number, should be 90-120. The diastolic reading, which is the bottom number, should be around 60-80. If the systolic reading is lower than 90 or your diastolic reading is lower than 60, you have low blood pressure[12]
- Systolic blood pressure measures the pressure that is exerted on the arteries by the force of your blood being pushed through by your heart. Think of your body as a pipe. The systolic reading is how hard the water presses on the pipe when it's flowing.
- Diastolic blood pressure measures the pressure that exists in your arteries when your heart rests between beats. If it helps, think of it as how hard the water pushes on the pipe when the tap on your sink is off.
- Keep in mind that everyone's body is different, and you will experience fluctuations over the course of each day. However, blood pressure numbers should be kept as close to these averages as possible.
[Edit]When to Seek Medical Care - See your doctor if you have low blood pressure symptoms. Most of the time, low blood pressure is not a problem unless it causes symptoms. If you experience any of the common symptoms associated with low blood pressure, consult a doctor to walk through your options. They will assess what's going on and recommend medical treatment options if necessary. [13]
- Common low blood pressure symptoms include dizziness, lightheadedness, fatigue, nausea and trouble concentrating.
- Uncommon symptoms that require medical attention sooner rather than later include fainting, blurred vision, and vomiting.
- Get emergency medical care for signs of shock. If your blood pressure drops extremely low, it can trigger a life-threatening condition called shock. Shock can damage your heart if you don't address it quickly, and you may be at serious risk if it goes completely untreated.[14]
- Work with your doctor to treat any underlying problems. Low blood pressure is often a symptom of an underlying medical condition. Managing these conditions properly can help keep your blood pressure levels under control. If your blood pressure is consistently low, see your doctor to try to identify and treat the source of the problem.[15]
- You may have low blood pressure if you're pregnant. Take a pregnancy test to see if you're expecting a child!
- Low blood pressure can be a symptom of several heart conditions, thyroid issues, dehydration, anemia, or allergies.
[Edit]Warnings - Avoid incorporating a ton of saturated fat or sugar in your diet. Fat and sugar can cause your blood pressure to spike and reduce suddenly, leading to periods of dizziness and exhaustion.[16]
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Take in a Dress at the Waist Posted: 27 Jun 2020 09:00 AM PDT Don't throw out the baggy dress that's been hiding in the back of your closet! Take in the waist to improve the fit and you'll feel like you've got a brand new dress. You can pin excess fabric along the side seams down to the waist. This will prevent puckering when you sew the new seams. If you're taking in a dress with a looser style, sew a fabric casing onto the waist instead. Then, push an elastic band through the casing so it gathers at the waist. [Edit]Taking in the Waist at the Sides - Pinch the waist of the dress to determine how much to take in. Put on the dress like you normally would so you have a good idea of how it currently fits and how you'd like it to fit. Then, pinch both sides of your waist at the narrowest part until the waist is as tight as you like. Hold a ruler across the fabric you're pinching in order to see out how much fabric to take in.[1]
- To keep the waist even, you'll need to take in the same amount of fabric from each side seam.
- For example, you might want to take in a dress by on each side so it fits better.
- Turn the dress inside out and insert pins along the seamline. Lay the inside out dress on a flat surface and locate the top of the side seams where they meet the armhole. Then, place your ruler on the dress and insert pins so they lie in the direction of the seam. Measure the excess fabric from the newly pinned seamline to the old seam. It should match the measurement you took.
- Pin about every or so all the way down to the narrowest part of the waist.
- Ensure that each pin goes through both sides of the dress.
- Try on the dress and adjust the pins if needed. Before you begin cutting or sewing the dress, put it back on while it's inside out. The waist should fit the way you like since you've pinned the excess fabric.
- If the waist is still too loose, adjust the pins to take in more fabric. If the dress feels too tight, consider letting out some of the fabric at the waist.
- Remove the dress and mark each side seam from the armhole to the waist. Once you're happy with how the pinned dress fits, take it off and lay it on your work surface. Use a piece of fabric chalk to draw along the line of pins. This will mark the new seam. Try to match the current curve of the seam line.[2]
- Taking in the side seams to the waist will prevent the waist from puckering when you remove the excess fabric.
- Sew a straight stitch along the seam lines you marked. Use your sewing machine loaded with thread that matches the dress to stitch the new seam line on each side of the dress. Remove the pins as you work so they don't get caught in your machine.[3]
- Although you could take in the dress by hand, a sewing machine will make stronger, more uniform stitches.
- Turn the dress right side out and try it on. If you like the way the waist fits, your dress is ready to wear! If you're bothered by the excess fabric inside the dress, you can cut away the excess from the seam lines so there's allowance.[4]
- Read the care label for the dress to see if you should iron it. This can give your dress a more polished look.
[Edit]Cinching the Waist with an Elastic Band - Try on an inside-out dress and wrap a narrow belt around the waist. Take the dress you want to alter and turn it inside out. Put on the inside-out dress along with a thin belt. Tighten the belt so it sits comfortably on the narrowest part of your waist.[5]
- Place the belt where you'd like the elastic casing to be.
- Mark around the waistline with fabric chalk. Take the chalk and draw a line around the waist where the belt lies. If it's easier, you could make several marks or insert sewing pins across the waist. Then, take the dress off and use a measuring tape to draw a straight line connecting the marks or pins.[6]
- Since it can be hard to reach around, you may want to ask a friend to help you with this step.
- The fabric chalk should dissolve when you wash the dress.
- Lay the dress on a table and measure the waistline circumference. Keep the dress turned inside out and lay it flat on a table. Take a measuring tape and pull it around the waistline you marked so you can find the circumference for the dress.[7]
- It's important to use your own measurement instead of relying on size charts. Size charts that pair waist measurements with sizes can vary wildly.
- Cut a strip of fabric that's longer than the circumference. Lay about of fabric that matches your dress on a work surface. Then, cut the fabric to a wide strip that's longer than the measurement for the waistline circumference.[8]
- For example, if your waistline measured , cut the strip long and wide.
- Fold the strip lengthwise and sew along the edge. Fold the fabric in half lengthwise so the right sides are facing together. Then, take it to your sewing machine and straight stitch along the long edge of the fabric. Leave a seam allowance. Stop sewing when you're about from the end of the strip.
- To make it easier to sew, consider ironing the strip of fabric so it stays flat.
- You should now have a casing that looks like a long, thin tube.
- Hook a safety pin to 1 end of the casing and pull the casing right side out. The fabric might twist or get stuck if you try to turn the casing right side out. To prevent this, secure a safety pin to 1 end of the casing and push it through that end until it comes out the other end. The casing should now be right side out.[9]
- If you'd like the casing to lie flat, you can iron it once it's right side out.
- You can remove the safety pin once you've turned the casing right side out.
- Pin the casing just below the waistline you marked on the dress. Wrap the casing you just made right below the line you marked on the dress. Line up the ends of the casing with a seam that's on the inside-out dress. Depending on your dress, you could line it up with a side seam or a seam that runs down the back of the dress. Then, secure the casing with sewing pins.[10]
- Try to pin every so the casing doesn't slide around.
- Edge stitch the bottom and top of the casing to the waistline. You can use your regular presser foot to edge stitch from the top and bottom edges of the casing. Stitch around the waistline, but stop about from the end so you can feed the elastic through the casing.[11]
- If your machine has one, use an edge joining foot. This foot will act as a guide as you edge stitch along the casing.
- Cut a piece of elastic longer than the waistline. Get out a wide piece of elastic and unroll it so it's as long as your waistline measurement. Add to the measurement and cut the elastic.[12]
- Secure a safety pin to the elastic and pull it through the casing. The safety pin will make it easier to pull the elastic through the casing. Keep pulling the pin until the elastic is completely through the casing.[13]
- To prevent the elastic from slipping back into the casing, you can pin the ends to the fabric outside the casing.
- At this point you can try on the dress right side out to see if you're happy with the waistline.
- Zigzag stitch the ends of the elastic together and sew the casing shut. Once you've taken the safety pin out, overlap the ends by . Then, zigzag stitch the ends together and use a straight stitch to sew the casing closed. You can now turn the dress right side out and enjoy the tighter waist![14]
- If you'd like the elastic casing to stand out, use a different fabric that complements the dress.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Taking in the Waist at the Sides - Dress
- Fabric chalk
- Sewing machine
- Thread
- Ruler
- Measuring tape
- Sewing pins
- Fabric chalk
[Edit]Cinching the Waist with an Elastic Band - Dress
- Narrow belt
- Sewing pins
- Sewing machine
- Thread
- Scissors
- elastic
- Fabric that matches the dress
- Fabric chalk
- Measuring tape
- Iron and ironing board, optional
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Print on Fabric Using Freezer Paper Posted: 27 Jun 2020 01:00 AM PDT Printing on fabric allows you to take your crafts projects to a different level! If you don't want to spend money on fabric transfer paper, you can do it yourself with freezer paper, fabric, and an iron. Freezer paper is thick and has plastic or wax coating on one side. Start by cutting it into a sheet by in size and make sure you use an inkjet printer. Inkjet printers use ink and are commonly sold as home printers while laser printers, which won't work for this project, use toner and are typically used in office settings. With all the right tools, you can be making things like custom pillowcases, tapestries, and quilt squares in no time! [Edit]Selecting an Image and Cutting the Fabric - Choose an image. If your printer prints color, choose a colorful graphic. Otherwise, stick with black-and-white designs. Keep in mind that photos may change resolution and size during the transfer process, so you might want to avoid trying to enlarge and print a small, colorful graphic with lots of little details because it will turn out looking pixelated. [1]
- Adjust your printer's settings. The printer settings will change the result, so experiment with the scale, paper type, and quality settings. Play with the printer's quality settings and do a few test prints to figure out which settings give the sharpest image. For instance, the photo setting will give you the most detailed image while the regular or quick setting will result in a fuzzy, distorted image (which can be great for a rustic look!).
- If you want the graphic to cover 1/4 or 1/2 of the fabric, go to your printer's advanced settings and adjust the scale to 25% or 50%. Set the scale to 100% to fill the entire sheet.
- Experiment by changing your printer paper settings to "matte photo," "glossy photo," or "semi-glossy photo" to find out which setting looks best with your graphic and the look you're trying to achieve.
- Cut a piece of fabric to by . Use sharp fabric scissors to cut a piece of fabric into the same size as your printer paper. It may help to place a piece of printer paper onto the fabric beforehand to use as a cutting guide.[2]
- Consider using fabric that is 100% cotton, like a 200 count muslin for the best transfer results (and more vibrant colors).
- If your design has colors, use white fabric (or as close to white as possible) to make sure the colors stay true to the design.
- For black and white designs, feel free to use whatever color fabric you like so long as it's not so dark that the ink won't show up (i.e., black or dark navy ink won't show up well on black or dark blue fabric).
- Make sure you trim rough or frayed fabric edges so they don't get caught in your printer. Not only could this ruin your project, loose thread inside your printer could also damage its internal parts.
- Cut a sheet of freezer paper to by . Use scissors or a crafting mandolin to cut the freezer paper to by . You will be "marrying" the freezer paper and fabric together so they need to be the same size.[3]
- When purchasing freezer paper, make sure it says "freezer" on the box—don't confuse wax paper with freezer paper.
- If you're using a craft mandolin and plan to transfer several prints, stack a few sheets at a time to cut down on time.
[Edit]Ironing the Fabric to the Freezer Paper - Set your iron to the dry and high setting. Preheat the iron so it's ready to go once you've lined up the fabric to the freezer paper. The high heat will heat the shiny wax on the freezer paper, which will act as a kind of glue.[4]
- Make sure the iron is on a safe, heat-proof surface and away from flammable materials like cleaning products, aerosol cans, and other items.
- Lay the fabric on top of the freezer paper and iron them together. Press the piece of fabric onto the shiny side of the freezer paper, aligning each corner closely as possible. Then, gently press down on the iron as you smooth it over the fabric. Be sure you run the iron over each edge to ensure each side is joined together.[5]
- This will join the freezer paper and fabric together, allowing both to pass through your printer.
- Iron on a smooth, flat surface for best results. If your ironing board has bumps, consider using a thin towel placed on a heat resistant countertop as a makeshift ironing board.
- Use sharp fabric scissors to trim off any fringe or rough edges. The ironing process may have produced more fringe or rough edges, so be sure to cut those off so they don't jam up your printer. Check each edge and corner to make sure the 2 sheets are fully bonded.[6]
- If the conjoined sheets aren't bonded in certain places like the sides or corners, go over those areas again with the iron.
[Edit]Printing on the Fabric - Place the ironed sheet into your printer's tray so it prints on the fabric. Be sure to place the fabric either face-down or face-up depending on how your printer feeds the paper from the tray to the printing area. You want the ink to go directly onto the fabric. If you're not sure how your printer feeds paper through, do a test run by printing onto regular printer paper.[7]
- Only inkjet printers can print onto fabric, so double-check that your printer isn't a laser printer.
- You may also want to do a test print of the image so the sizing, color, and orientation settings are correct. If not, you may need to adjust your printer settings.
- Double-check your printer settings and print. Before you press the print button, make sure that you've selected your desired print settings. For instance, you might want to select the highest quality settings possible or change the size of the print.[8]
- If your printer has a high-quality photo setting, select that one because it will give you the clearest image.
- Place the print onto a flat surface and let it dry for 24 hours. Place the printed product onto a dry, flat surface and let it dry for at least 1 day. Even if it feels dry to the touch, it's better to wait to peel it off just in case.[9]
- It may be tempting to peel some of it back right away to get a peek, but doing so could cause the ink to run and, as a result, distort and smudge the image.
- Wedge your fingernail into a corner and peel the fabric and freezer paper apart. Once the ink is dry, wedge your fingernail into one of the corners between the two sheets and carefully peel them apart. Go slowly and be careful not to stretch or pull on the fabric.[10]
- It may help to place the bonded sheets near the edge of a flat surface and bend one of the corners back.
[Edit]Setting and Caring for Your Printed Fabric - Treat the printed fabric with a fabric-setting spray to keep it from fading. Purchase a fabric setting or finishing spray from any craft store. Hold the canister about to away from the fabric and coat the entire surface with an even layer. This will ensure the ink doesn't rub off or wash away.[11]
- Some home-printing fabrics come pre-treated to help retain color better. These don't require any setting sprays or sealants.
- Some fabric-setting sprays should be used while the ink is still wet—refer to the instructions on the bottle.
- Soak the printed fabric in hot water and fabric guard for 20 minutes. Fill a tray large enough to hold the printed fabric with about of hot water and stir in the recommended amount of fabric guard. Stir it around until it's well incorporated and then place the printed fabric into the solution for 20 minutes. Rinse it with cold water and let it dry for 24 hours.[12]
- Refer to the directions on the back of the bottle to determine how much you should use.
- Fabric guard acts as a protective shield on each fiber of the fabric. It will keep your graphic looking vibrant and protect the cloth from stains.
- This ink-setting method works best with pigment-based inks which are commonly used in printers geared toward high-quality photography prints. You can use it with dye-based inks as well, but note that a little of the dye may seek out of the fabric while it's soaking.
- Spray the printed fabric with an upholstery protector. Hold the upholstery protector to away from the dried fabric and spray a layer onto the entire surface. Use a steady stream and work in lines instead of spraying it in a random fashion.[13]
- You may want to place the printed fabric onto a sheet of newspaper before spraying it to protect your floors or other surfaces.
- If you plan to regularly wash the fabric, it's best to avoid upholstery protector and use a setting spray or solution.
- Wash the printed fabric in cold water, if necessary. If you used the printed fabric on something that's going to require washing like clothing or a pillowcase, make sure to use cold water. You can use your regular detergent so long as it doesn't contain bleach.[14]
- Avoid putting your printed fabric in the dryer because it might shrink the fabric and distort the image—especially if it's mostly cotton. If you must use the dryer, choose a no-heat or low-heat setting.
- If you'd rather use pre-treated fabric sheets that you can print on at home, you can buy them at most office supply stores or craft stores.
- Don't confuse freezer paper with parchment or wax paper. Parchment paper has no coating and wax paper has a coating on both sides.
- You can also print on fabric with a stencil, acetate and masking tape.
[Edit]Warnings - Finishing sprays and upholstery protectors should only be used in well-ventilated areas.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Selecting an Image and Cutting the Fabric - Freezer paper
- Fabric
- Fabric scissors
[Edit]Ironing the Fabric to the Freezer Paper - Iron
- Heat-resistant surface
[Edit]Printing on the Fabric [Edit]Setting and Caring for Your Printed Fabric - Fabric-setting spray
- Water-soluble fabric guard (best for pigment-based ink)
- Upholstery Protector (optional)
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
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