There are a lot of warnings about high blood pressure and its implications, but did you know that it’s essential to pay attention to low blood pressure too? This condition is called hypotension, and it often has significant consequences for your health. That’s why you need to know the symptoms of low blood pressure and what to do about it.
While it’s common for everybody’s blood pressure to vary slightly from day to day, it’s accepted that a normal blood pressure reading is between 90/60 mmHg and 120/80 mmHg.
The top number is the systolic pressure and represents the pressure in the arteries when your heart beats. The bottom number is the diastolic pressure, which represents the pressure in your arteries when your heart rests. When either or both of these numbers drop below the desired range, it’s considered low blood pressure.
Having low blood pressure can be dangerous depending on the individual and how low the level is. For example, older adults may lose consciousness and fall. That fall can result in broken bones and other injuries.
Low blood pressure can also starve the body of oxygen, which in turn affects how well your system functions. Consistent low blood pressure can send your body into shock and that usually needs to be handled quickly.
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Low blood pressure can be caused by a variety of issues. If you’ve been injured, had a severe allergic reaction, had a heart attack, had an infection, or are dealing with dehydration, your blood pressure levels can drop.
Certain medications like antidepressants, painkillers, anti-anxiety drugs, drugs for erectile dysfunction, and diuretics can have a similar effect.
Additionally, heart disease, Parkinson’s disease, endocrine problems, and diabetic complications can affect your blood pressure.
Finally, certain conditions such as postprandial hypotension and neurally mediated hypotension specifically affect your blood pressure. The first condition can cause low blood pressure if you’ve been standing for too long while the second can cause a problem within an hour or two of eating.
You may not experience all of the symptoms listed here but most people who have low blood pressure commonly have a few of these ten issues.
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If your blood pressure is low, you should sit or lie down immediately. It’s crucial to ensure that your legs are above heart level. In the event this doesn’t help, you should go to the emergency room.
Sometimes, low blood pressure needs to be managed with a blood transfusion, IV fluids, or medication. Being at the hospital also gives doctors a chance to assess you for underlying conditions that could have caused your low blood pressure. Some of the tests you may undergo include urinalysis, X-rays, and blood analysis.
You should definitely see a doctor if you’re having drops in your blood pressure consistently. That suggests there’s another problem that needs to be addressed.
If your low blood pressure is accompanied by chest pain, dizziness, a fever that’s higher than 101°F (38.3°C), shortness of breath, fainting, irregular heartbeat, and black stools, you need to see a doctor immediately.
Anyone can be at risk for developing low blood pressure. What’s critical is that you know how to recognize the symptoms and what to do when it happens. Sometimes you can take care of it on your own but don’t shy away from seeing a doctor if the symptoms continue.
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