Diagnosis Of Low Blood Pressure
A familiar instrument for diagnosis of low blood pressure is a sphygmomanometer, which has an inflatable cuff that goes around your forearm while you are sitting and supported. This cuff is worn at the heart level and must be the right size since a too large or too small cuff would result in the wrong measurement.
The inflation and deflation causes the blood vessels to constrict and relax in conjunction, and a doctor uses a stethoscope near the crook of your elbow to determine when the blood flow is constricted, and the time that it starts. The pressure diagnosed at these two times is what is noted as your blood pressure.
The pulse rate is also an important indicator of any abnormalities in blood pressure, and a doctor may repeatedly measure your pulse in addition to measuring blood pressure. A rapid, shallow beating of the pulse may indicate inability of the heart to pump adequate blood through the body. Sometimes, an electrocardiogram may also be used for accurate measurement of the heart rate, or a blood sugar test may be prescribed to determine any symptoms or effects of low blood pressure. A “tilt-table test” that simulates a change in posture while lying down on a table may also be prescribed to check for orthostatic hypotension.
Diagnosis depends on the outcome of these tests and is relatively simple to do. Medical history is also a consideration when determining if a person has signs of low blood pressure, or a more short-term incident.
So Can Lower Barometric Pressure Make You Tired Or Fatigued
In short: yes, especially if you have issues with your blood sugar. However, you may also feel fatigued because of other factors associated with low blood pressure. These factors might include sleepiness caused by a lack of sunlight during stormy weather or weariness from fighting off sinus-related symptoms and/or joint pain.
At the same time, if your sinuses are acting up, they may also be the root cause of your fatigue, with a change in barometric pressure being the proverbial straw that breaks the camels back. If your sinus issues frequently contribute to issues with barometric pressure changes and fatigue, you may want to consider seeking treatment.
Why Does A Deficiency Of Magnesium Cause These Symptoms
Magnesium is required by hundreds of enzyme reactions in the body. These enzyme reactions regulate a diverse range of biochemical processes such as muscle function, nerve signals, protein synthesis, blood pressure control, and blood glucose regulation. Magnesium is also required for critical processes like energy production and DNA synthesis. It contributes to the structure of bone and plays a role in calcium and potassium transport, which in turn is important for muscle contraction, nerve conduction, and normal heart rhythm.
Given that magnesium plays a role in so many processes in the body, a magnesium deficiency can lead to a wide range of signs and symptoms.
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When To See A Doctor
A person should seek medical advice if their blood pressure falls suddenly, is very low, or is significantly lower than usual.
They should also seek advice if they have other symptoms, such as excessive urination, a fever, or fatigue, as these could indicate an underlying condition.
With very low blood pressure, insufficient blood and oxygen may be reaching the brain and other vital organs. Emergency medical attention may be necessary.
If a person shows signs of anaphylaxis, whoever is with them should take immediate action. If the person carries an autoinjector, a bystander can help them administer it. They should also call 911.
So Can High Blood Pressure Make You Tired
You already probably know the answer from the forerunner to this but for avoidance of doubt, if you want the answer to the question: can high blood pressure make you tired?
The answer is yes, high blood pressure can make you tired. Yes, high blood pressure can cause fatigue. Yes, high blood pressure can make you feel exhausted most of the time.
For the most part, people with high blood pressure tend not show any symptoms. Hence, if you are not someone already diagnosed with hypertension the finger-pointing exercise will probably be in the wrong direction.
This is particularly so if you are one of those with masked high blood pressure. These are individuals with high blood pressure that is not obvious to their doctor when their blood pressure is measured.
These folks have normal blood pressure in front of their doctor but in actual fact they have high blood pressure in their day to day lives. The exact opposite of white coat hypertension. The only way to diagnose these folks is through ambulatory 24-hour blood pressure monitoring.
Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring will reveal the aha moment. High blood pressure diagnosed. Cause of tiredness and fatigue uncovered. Problem solved.
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What Is A Low Blood Pressure Headache
A low blood pressure headache can occur when a person’s blood pressure drops to extremely low levels. The pressure of blood is the force that the blood exerts upon the inner walls of the blood vessels. When the pressure is low, it deprives the brain and other vital organs of proper nutrients and oxygen. Deprivation of these vital nutrients and oxygen to the brain is what causes the headache to occur.
Low blood pressure is also known as hypotension. It is preferred over high blood pressure, because studies have shown that people who have lower blood pressure have a reduced risk of developing kidney or heart disease. When the pressure drops too low, however, it can cause serious and long-term damage to vital organs such as the brain, kidneys, heart, lung and liver. Some of the symptoms of a low blood pressure headache include a lightheaded feeling, fainting, dizziness, fatigue and weakness. These symptoms are often worse when a person changes positions, such as standing up from a sitting or lying position.
Dont Count On Your Doctor
How did you score on the above self-assessment? Did you find at least a partial resemblance of yourself there? If yes chances are you have low blood pressure despite your doctor telling you otherwise. With health practitioners looking out for high rather than low numbers, hypotension is frequently overlooked. Low numbers are not life threatening so they are usually not mentioned to a patient as a concern. After all, nobody dies of low blood pressure, just high blood pressure. Fatigue does not kill, just make you sleep more and earn less.
My low blood pressure numbers werent discovered by my family doctor either. All I heard was your blood pressure is good, so I trusted his words. But the reality was different. My blood pressure numbers were low-normal at his office, but low-low at home. I realized that only after I bought my own blood pressure monitor and started checking myself. My findings were surprising.
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Why Does High Blood Pressure Make Us Feel Tired
High blood pressure is often called the silent killer because, in most cases, it doesnt have any apparent symptoms. However, fatigue and chest pains are among the very few indicators of high blood pressure. Fatigue caused by high blood pressure occurs as a result of many different factors including the effects of condition itself, medication management and lifestyle choices. High blood pressure causes tiredness as a result of elevated pressure on vital organs such as the brain, heart and kidneys.
Often though, medication plays a larger role in contributing to fatigue than the actual condition does. Tiredness is often a common side effect of many medications used to lower blood pressure. Blood pressure medications may slow the pumping action of the heart, in the case of diuretics, the body can easily become depleted of essential electrolytes. The body reacts to this by producing less energy and so results in increased tiredness and fatigue. Unexplained tiredness that doesnt appear to have a cause can be a result of high blood pressure.
Drink Alcohol In Moderation
Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol will increase your blood pressure and raise the cholesterol levels in your blood.
Sticking to the recommended amounts of alcohol consumption is the best way to reduce your risk of developing high blood pressure.
The recommended daily limits of alcohol consumption are:
- 3 to 4 units of alcohol for men
- 2 to 3 units of alcohol for women.
A unit of alcohol is equal to about half a pint of normal-strength lager, a small glass of wine or a pub measure or spirits.
More about drinking alcohol reponsibly
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Discuss Your Heart Disease Risk Factors & What You Can Do To Help Reduce Your Risk For Heart Disease With Our Womens Health Care Team
When it comes to heart disease, women not only may experience different symptoms, but also different risk factors. For example, after menopause, your risk for heart disease increases, likely due to hormone changes. Some pregnancy complications can also be risk factors for heart disease, as well as conditions like endometriosis and polycystic ovary disease.
Some other things that may increase your risk for heart disease include:
- Diabetes
Our womens health care professionals are here to help address your health as a whole. During your appointment, well talk about your history and risk factors and help guide you on things you can do to lower your risk for heart disease. If youre feeling excessively tired, well help you find underlying causes of your symptom. Our providers listen and then help you with individualized treatment plans.
Q What Can I Do To Prevent Low Blood Pressure
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Whats Considered High Blood Pressure
A blood pressure reading consists of two numbers:
- Systolic pressure. The first or top number tells you what the pressure is in your arteries during heartbeats.
- Diastolic pressure. The second or bottom number tells you what the pressure is in your arteries between heartbeats.
According to the American Heart Association , a normal or healthy blood pressure reading is less than 120/80 millimeters of mercury . The following categories define blood pressure readings that are above this level.
- Elevated. This is a systolic number between 120 and 129 mm Hg and a diastolic number less than 80 mm Hg.
- Stage 1 hypertension. Stage 1 is a systolic number between 130 and 139 mm Hg or a diastolic reading between 80 and 89 mm Hg.
- Stage 2 hypertension. Stage 2 is a systolic pressure thats 140 mm Hg or higher or diastolic pressure of 90 mm Hg or higher.
- Hypertensive crisis. This is a systolic pressure over 180 mm Hg or diastolic pressure over 120 mm Hg. Blood pressure in this range requires medical attention right away.
Treatment Of Low Blood Pressure
Unless accompanied by other conditions, low blood pressure is usually easy to treat and does not require much medication. Often, a low blood pressure diet may be prescribed, or a change in lifestyle may become necessary. Common recommendations include:
Increased intake of water: Dehydration can cause an electrolyte imbalance resulting in signs of low blood pressure, and care towards adequate hydration would be important, especially in high temperature situations, during fevers or dysentery.
Increased sodium in diet: Salted nuts, cheeses and cured fish and meats are high in sodium content, and would help stabilize blood pressure in case it is very low. Care must be taken to not overdo it, however, and for a balance to be maintained.
Limiting alcohol consumption: Alcohol consumption can cause fluctuation in heart rate and limiting its consumption for some time will help alleviate symptoms of low blood pressure in otherwise healthy individuals.
Exercise: Light exercises not involving much strain to the body help improve circulation of blood throughout, and keep the heart healthy. In cases of low blood pressure, it is important to be aware of its symptoms such as palpitations and cold skin so that exercising does not aggravate the condition.
Ceasing any aggravating medication:If intake of certain medication is seen to cause dips in blood pressure, your doctor may recommend a substitute for the drug, or even stopping its consumption till pressure is stabilized.
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More Serious Or Lasting Causes
Some potentially more severe health issues can also cause low blood pressure, including:
- Nutrient deficiencies: These might involve vitamin B12 or folic acid.
- Neurally mediated hypotension: This disorder causes a drop in blood pressure after the person has been standing up for a prolonged period.
- Endocrine problems: These affect the regulation of the bodys hormones. One example is hypothyroidism, also known as an underactive thyroid.
- Heart problems: These can limit how effectively the heart pushes blood around the body.
- : This is a potentially life threatening response to a severe bacterial infection.
- Anaphylactic shock: This is a potentially life threatening complication of anaphylaxis, which is a severe allergic reaction.
In addition, loss of blood due to an injury can lead to low blood pressure.
What Are The Signs Of Low Blood Pressure
We hear a lot about high blood pressure and what can happen if it isn’t controlled, but having abnormally low blood pressure can be just as harmful if it not properly treated.
Unlike high blood pressure symptoms, which are poorly defined and often totally absent, low blood pressure symptoms tend to be more upfront and easily recognizable. The development of symptoms is often a warning sign of a potentially serious underlying disorder. Generally speaking, your blood pressure would need to fall pretty dramatically before symptoms develop.
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Why High Blood Pressure Can Make You Feel Tired
If youve had hypertension for a while, you may have noticed that you sometimes feel tired after little or no exertion.
When left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to some serious medical complications, including those that make you feel tired easily.
Lets take a look at some of these complications that might be causing your fatigue.
Low Blood Pressure And Stress
The cardionomic circuit consists of the adrenal glands, cardiovascular system, and autonomic nervous system. This circuit forms part of the bodys NEM stress response, its global response to stress.
Low blood pressure can be caused by various conditions that put physical stress on your body. In so doing, it could negatively affect your adrenal glands, thereby contributing to the development of adrenal fatigue and other health problems related to stress. Many low blood pressure symptoms are also common with adrenal fatigue. Heart disease is but one of these.
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Low Blood Pressure Causes
Blood pressure behavior is not a random phenomenon, but an extremely valuable health marker. Blood pressure pattern can reveal many underlying causes of fatigue including adrenal exhaustion, food sensitivities, anemia, nervous system failure, POTS, hypoglycemia, or hardening of arteries. You just need to know which pattern to look for.
If you are interested in doing some detective work you will find specific blood pressure tests and their interpretations in two of my books The Ultimate Guide to Low & Fluctuating Blood Pressure and Revived! Proven Natural Solutions for Low Blood Pressure. I wrote them as a triumph over chronic fatigue.
In the meantime add habits that will get your mojo going: drink a large glass of cold water on waking, add a generous pinch of salt to your breakfast and skip the banana. What? Oh yes, there are a few surprising rules for low blood pressure.
Low Blood Pressure Chronic Fatigue/joint Pain: Please Help
Asked by FindPainRelief
Low Blood Pressure, Chronic Fatigue/joint Pain: Please Help
I have a history of an MVA — chronic neck pain. Over the last few years, my health problems have included: severe joint pain: wrist, hips, neck, and low back. Extreme fatigue, and low bp recently has landed me at the ER on more than one occasion from fainting while grocery shopping, or outside gardening. I was also hospitalized for chest pain a few months back. now, Im so tired I don’t want to get out of bed. The doctor ran initial blood test and the only thing that jumped out at her was my cholesterol.
I was bitten by tics last summer, we had a real bad tic problem and I can’t seem to stay in doors when it’s warm. I don’t know if the tics have anything to do with my increased health problems, or that I simply need more vitamins/exercise. The fainting is becoming more often, and scary.
Do you have any suggestions? Or, could all of the symptoms be related in some way? I guess I don’t know the exact question to ask. I’m just a bit concerned about the dizzyness and extreme fatique. I’m 37 years old and should be more healthy. Thank you for your suggestions.
Not sure what is wrong with the formatting of this post. Sorry.
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