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What Are The Symptoms Of Low Blood Pressure

Causes Of Overall Low Blood Pressure

10 Symptoms of Low Blood Pressure ? Is Hypotension DANGEROUS?

There are several common causes of overall hypotension, which would include a low diastolic number.

Medications

  • Overtreatment of high blood pressure. For some people, especially people over age 60, lowering systolic blood pressure below 120 may cause diastolic pressure to fall below 60.
  • Other medications. Many medications besides those for blood pressure can cause hypotension. They include:
  • drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction

Medical conditions

  • Heart problems. Heart valve problems, heart failure, and a very slow heart rate can lead to hypotension.
  • Dehydration. If you dont take in enough fluids, your blood pressure can fall dangerously low. This may happen if youre taking a diuretic and lose more fluids than you take in.

Treatment for low diastolic blood pressure largely depends on the type of hypotension. Your doctor will assess this closely to determine the appropriate treatment plan.

Diet And Nutrition For Low Blood Pressure

A balanced meal with complex carbohydrates, fish, lean meat, fruits and cooked vegetables goes a long way in preventing hypotension. Changing meal patterns to make them more frequent and less heavy prevent as well as address postprandial fatigue and hypotension.

On diagnosis of a dip in BP, a low blood pressure diet that supplies adequate sodium, and potassium while maintaining blood sugar levels is generally recommended for patients.Increased consumption of non-alcoholic beverages helps maintain adequate hydration and is recommended. Increasing salt quantities or addition of soy sauce in everyday cooking is a simple change that combats effects of low blood pressure and may be suggested by your doctor.

Underlying Illnesses Or Conditions

If your GP suspects that a disorder – such as a heart condition, adrenal gland failure or a nerve condition – is causing your low blood pressure, you may be referred to hospital for further tests and treatment.

If adrenal gland failure is found to be causing your low blood pressure, your GP may prescribe fludrocortisone to replace the missing hormone, aldosterone. This will usually be in tablet form and will need to be taken for life.

If a nerve condition is causing your low blood pressure, it can be more difficult to treat. You may be prescribed medication in order to help stimulate your nervous system.

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How Do I Know If I Have Low Blood Pressure

Low blood pressure is not always a sign of a problem. But if you have symptoms of low blood pressure, your doctor can diagnose the condition and uncover the cause. Symptoms of dizziness and lightheadedness when you stand up from sitting or lying down — with a decrease in your blood pressure — may indicate a condition called postural hypotension. A wide range of underlying conditions may also cause your symptoms. It’s important to identify the cause of low blood pressure so appropriate treatment can be given.

The doctor will look at your medical history, age, specific symptoms, and the conditions under which the symptoms occurred. They will do a physical exam and may repeatedly check your blood pressure and pulse rate — after you’ve been lying down for a few minutes, right after you stand up, and within a few minutes after you stand quietly.

Other tests may be performed, such as an ECG to measure heart rate and rhythm and an echocardiogram . You may also have blood tests to look for anemia or problems with your blood sugar levels.

More sophisticated home ECG monitoring may be necessary to check for heart problems that come and go or an irregular heart beat that can cause your blood pressure to drop suddenly.

An exercise stress test or, less commonly, an electrophysiology test may also be helpful.

Postural Or Orthostatic Hypotension

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Postural or orthostatic hypotension occurs when your blood pressure falls after a sudden movement. For example, you may feel dizzy or faint after changing posture, such as sitting up from a lying position, or standing up from a sitting position. This may cause you to lose your balance and fall over. You may also feel light-headed, have blurred vision, or lose consciousness.

The symptoms of postural or orthostatic hypotension should only last a few minutes as your blood pressure adjusts to your new position. This type of low blood pressure tends to affect people more as they get older when it can lead to more frequent falls. Similar symptoms may also occur after exercise.

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Drink Plenty Of Water

Dehydration can sometimes lead to low blood pressure. Some people may have hypotension even with mild dehydration.

You can also get dehydrated by losing water too quickly. This can happen through vomiting, severe diarrhea, fever, strenuous exercise, and excess sweating.

Medications such as diuretics may also cause dehydration. Drink more water by using a portable water bottle. Use an alarm or timer to remind you to take a sip.

What Is Cardiac Syncope

Cardiac or cardiovascular syncope is caused by various heart conditions, such as bradycardia, tachycardia or certain types of hypotension. It can increase the risk of sudden cardiac death.

People suspected of having cardiac syncope but who don’t have serious medical conditions may be managed as outpatients. Further inpatient evaluation is needed if serious medical conditions are present. Conditions that may warrant hospital evaluation and treatment include various cardiac arrhythmic conditions, cardiac ischemia, severe aortic stenosis and pulmonary embolism. If evaluation suggests cardiac vascular abnormalities, an ambulatory external or implantable cardiac monitor may be required.

Heart failure, atrial fibrillation and other serious cardiac conditions can cause recurrent syncope in older adults, with a sharp increase after age 70.

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What Blood Pressure Range Is Low What’s Normal

Low blood pressure is a condition in which the force of blood pumping through the arteries is lower than normal.

Blood pressure is expressed in two numbers:

  • Systolic blood pressure
  • Measures the pressure in the blood vessels when the heartbeats
  • Diastolic blood pressure
  • Measures the pressure in the blood vessels when the heart is at rest between beats
  • What Are the Blood Pressure Ranges?

    Low, normal, elevated, and high blood pressure is often defined in the following ranges:

  • High blood pressure is 140/90 mmHg or more
  • How Can I Lower Blood Pressure Whilst Managing My Diabetes

    Low Blood Pressure or Hypotension, Causes, Signs and Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment.

    There are various ways to lower blood pressure, including modifying lifestyle and medication. Losing weight makes a big difference to blood pressure.

    Taking regular physical exercise also makes a big difference to blood pressure. Lowering salt intake also makes a major difference to blood pressure, as does eating a more healthy diet in general.

    Furthermore, cutting down alcohol and stopping smoking can also lower blood pressure amongst diabetics. Drug treatment is used in some instances, with several different drugs used to lower blood pressure.

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    What Are The Symptoms Of Low Blood Pressure

    Low blood pressure is a condition where the blood pressure is below normal and is associated with many health risks. Signs of low blood pressure can include the feeling of being weak or light-headed. It is important that you seek medical attention if you are experiencing any of the symptoms.

    How Blood Pressure Is Measured And What The Readings Mean

    Blood pressure is expressed as two numbers, with one “over” the other. The first, or top, number is the systolic blood pressure. This indicates the amount of pressure your blood exerts against the walls of your arteries when your heart contracts. The second, or bottom, number is the diastolic pressure, which refers to the amount of pressure in your arteries when your heart refills between beats.

    Your healthcare provider typically measures your blood pressure using a stethoscope and an inflatable cuff that wraps around your upper arm. The cuff is inflated until it is tight enough to stop the blood from flowing, then it is slowly deflated. Through the stethoscope, your doctor or nurse will hear the whooshing sound of the blood returning this is the systolic pressure. The moment the whooshing sound disappears marks the diastolic pressure.

    The commonly accepted ideal blood pressure for adults is 120/80 mm Hg or lower. But since blood pressure naturally rises with age, your BP might be higher than that without any cause for concern. For instance, according to a chart from Disabled World, a normal blood pressure reading for an 80-year-old woman could be 134/84 mm Hg.

    So, what is considered low blood pressure in elderly people? Typically, the low blood pressure range is anything below 90/60 mm Hg. This is called hypotension. The Disabled World chart shows that a dangerous blood pressure level is 50/33 mm Hg.

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    What’s The Difference Between Blood Pressure And Pulse

    Causes and Symptoms of Low Blood Pressure

    While your blood pressure is the force of your blood moving through your blood vessels, your heart rate is the number of times your heart beats per minute.

    • They are two separate measurements and indicators of health.
    • For people with high blood pressure , theres no substitute for measuring blood pressure.

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    Blood Pressure Vs Heart Rate

    Blood pressure and heart rate are both important indications of how well your heart is working, but they measure different things. As noted above, blood pressure is the force of your blood flowing through your arteries. By contrast, heart rate is the number of times your heart beats each minute.

    In adults, the heart typically beats 60 to 100 times per minute while at rest. But as with blood pressure, a healthy heart rate will differ between individuals. For instance, a pulse below 60 beats per minute is slower than normal, but it might not cause any issues for you.

    However, in some situations, a low pulse means that the heart is not circulating enough blood to satisfy the body’s needs. That can cause you to feel dizzy and weak. A pulse in the 30s is a dangerously low heart rate and should be investigated.

    The relationship between blood pressure and heart rate is complex. If you’re concerned about your numbers, see your doctor.

    What Can I Do For Myself

    There are other things you can do for yourself to help with your symptoms.

    • Wear supportive elastic stockings . They put extra pressure on your legs which helps to improve circulation and raise your blood pressure. For some people this can be enough, but speak to your GP first because they arent suitable for everyone.
    • Stand up slowly from sitting or lying down. You can try other simple movements to get the blood flowing before you stand up, such as straightening and bending your legs.
    • Avoid standing for long periods of time.
    • Drink enough water throughout the day, around 2 litres, so you dont get dehydrated.
    • Eat little and often throughout the day. This avoids low blood pressure after eating.

    Read more about how .

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    Serious Injuries And Shock

    Low blood pressure can also be caused by serious injuries or burns, particularly if you have lost a lot of blood. This can mean that there is less blood being pumped around your body. Low blood pressure can also occur if you go into shock after having a serious injury.

    Other kinds of shock are described below.

    Anaphylactic shock

    Anaphylactic shock, or anaphylaxis, is caused by an allergic reaction to something – for example, a wasp sting or a peanut. During an allergic reaction, your body produces a large amount of a chemical called histamine, which causes your blood vessels to widen and leads to a sudden, severe drop in blood pressure.

    Cardiogenic shock

    Cardiogenic shock occurs when your heart cannot supply enough blood to your body, so your blood pressure drops. This can happen during a heart attack.

    What Can I Expect If I Have This Condition

    Causes of Hypotension – What causes Low Blood Pressure? (with Signs and Symptoms)

    If you have hypotension, what you can expect depends on what causes it and if you have symptoms. If you dont have symptoms, its unlikely that hypotension will be a problem for you.

    If you have symptoms, hypotension can interfere with your ability to stand up, care for yourself, cook, drive and do many other activities. That’s why understanding the condition and following a healthcare provider’s guidance are so important to minimizing this condition’s impact on your life.

    How long does hypotension last?

    How long this condition lasts depends very much on what caused it. If you have hypotension because of normal aging, it will probably be a lifelong concern.

    Whats the outlook for hypotension?

    If you have low blood pressure but dont have symptoms, this condition usually isnt harmful and shouldnt impact your life.

    If you do have symptoms, the underlying cause is usually what determines the outlook for this condition. Your healthcare provider is the best person to tell you what to expect from this condition and what you can do to manage those effects.

    Complications that can happen because of hypotension include:

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    Q What Should You Eat When Experiencing Low Blood Pressure

  • Along with constantly monitoring your symptoms, and managing your blood pressure, here are some useful diet tips that will help you raise your blood pressure:
    • Drinking plenty of fluids- hydration is key, and dehydration can severely affect blood volume.
    • Drink plenty of water through the day, especially after a workout session.
    • Vitamin B12- lack of vitamin B12 can lead to anemia. So, you have to consume foods like eggs, cereals, and beef to avoid a dip in your blood pressure.
    • Folate- folate helps keep blood pressure levels at a steady level, and foods like asparagus, liver, and garbanzo beans are rich in folate.
    • Salt: Salty foods are known to increase blood pressure, and you can eat food like smoked fish, cottage cheese, canned soup, and olives.
    • Caffeine: Caffeinated tea and coffee can spike your blood pressure by stimulating the cardiovascular system and giving your rate a boost.

    What Do Blood Pressure Numbers Mean

    Blood pressure is measured in millimetres of mercury, as two figures, for example 124/80 mmHg.

    • The first number is known as systolic pressure pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts.
    • The second number is diastolic pressure the pressure in the arteries when the heart rests.

    Blood pressure is important to track because high blood pressure is associated with a greater risk of organ damage, such as kidney damage and retinal damage, in people with diabetes.

    High blood pressure tends to be quite closely associated with people with type 2 diabetes, but keeping blood pressure levels healthy applies to all people with diabetes and we should have our blood pressure measured at least once each year.

    Because of the extra threat of organ damage, people with diabetes are actually given more strict targets for blood pressure than other patients.

    Non-diabetic people have a target of keeping below 140 over 80 millimetres of mercury.

    For people with diabetes, the target is below 130 over 80.

    You might ask what these numbers mean. The first number is the pressure in the blood vessels at the point in which the heart pumps. The second number is the measurement of the pressure when the heart is resting between each beats.

    The thing about conventional blood pressure checks is that they give a reading only relevant to the time youre having the check.

    If youre not completely relaxed at the time of the check, you could get a reading thats higher than it should be.

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