Don’t skip your warm-up

For those of us who struggle with low blood pressure, it’s important to set aside time to warm up and cool down properly. Weston says: “I always advise people to stop exercising gradually – don’t jump straight off that treadmill because the blood will pool in your legs but your heart needs to get the blood pumping back to your head. Always have a cool down walk if you can.”

Have a snack

She also advises small tweaks such as stretching standing up and not exercising on an empty stomach, saying it’s best to “eat a small snack about an hour before you start working out”.

The emphasis is on small though; a large meal “takes lots of energy to digest, which will cause your blood pressure to go down as well. Rather, eating small, frequent meals encourages blood flow to the digestive system.”

Have a cuppa

And there’s good news for coffee addicts like me, as Weston says: “Drinking caffeinated drinks may help to raise blood pressure in the short term, as they increase heart rate. It doesn’t affect everybody’s blood pressure in the same way but might help before exercising if you’re struggling.”

How to exercise with low blood pressure: expert-backed tips for working out safely