Meaning of Low Blood Pressure  

      Low blood pressure, or hypo tension can cause dizziness and fainting.  If you have low blood pressure, it can mean that you have serious heart, neurological or endocrine disorders.  When low blood pressure goes too low, it can deprive the brain and your other vital organs of nutrients and oxygen, which can lead to shock.  Blood pressure varies from person to person, but if you have a reading of 90 systolic (the top number) and 60 diastolic (the bottom number), you have low blood pressure.  

   Systolic pressure is the amount of pressure your heart generates when it it pumping your blood through your arteries and throughout your body.  Diastolic pressure is the amount of pressure in your arteries when your heart is resting between its beats.  Blood pressure is considered normal when it is equal to or lower than 120/80.  The optimal blood pressure reading is about 115/75.  Blood pressure is often not consistent throughout the day or even from day to day, but it will usually center around a certain amount.  Blood pressure readings are usually the lowest at night time, and the highest when you first wake up. 

     Usually doctors consider a blood pressure reading in which your systolic or diastolic numbers are too low (below 90 or 60) lower than normal.  Big plunges are also dangerous for you, so if your blood pressure is normally 125 over 80 and it decreases to 95 over 80, this needs to be brought to the attention of a doctor.  Typically people who exercise regularly have lower blood pressure than people who do not exercise.  Also, nonsmokers and people who stay at a healthy weight also tend to have lower blood pressure. 

It is important to have your blood pressure taken regularly.

Symptoms

     Low blood pressure has a variety of symptoms.  You may feel dizzy or lightheaded, and you may even faint.  You may find that your vision becomes blurry.  You may find that you have difficulty concentrating.  Nausea and cold, clammy skin that turns pale is also a signal that low blood pressure may be present.  Your breathing may become rapid and shallow, and you may feel very thirsty.  Fatigue and depression are also two symptoms. 

     Sometimes low blood pressure isn't serious.  Your doctor will want to know how you are feeling.  If you have a low blood pressure reading without any of these symptoms, your doctor may just want to continue to monitor your blood pressure.  If, however, you experience any of these signs of hypo tension, you need to see your doctor, because low blood pressure can lead to other problems. 

If you have low blood pressure, your doctor will want to know if you have been experiencing any of the symptoms of low blood pressure. 

Causes

Here are some conditions that may cause you to have low blood pressure. 

• Heart Problems:  Low heart rates, heart valve problems, heart failure and heart attack can cause low blood pressure because they keep your body from being able to circulate your blood properly.
• Dehydration:  Dehydration can cause weakness, dizziness, and fatigue.  This will affect your blood pressure. 
  
• Endocrine Problems:  If you have an underactive or overactive thyroid, this can cause low blood pressure.  Also, diabetes, low blood sugar, and Addison's Disease can cause low blood pressure. 
  
• Pregnancy:  Blood pressure is likely to drop during a woman's pregnancy.  The systolic pressure may drop five to 10 points and the diastolic pressure may decrease 10 to 15 points during the first 24 weeks of pregnancy.  After giving birth, the woman's blood pressure usually returns to its normal rate. 
  
• Blood Loss:  If you lose a lot of blood from internal bleeding or major injury, this will lead to a severe drop in your blood pressure. 
  
• Lack of Nutrients in Your Diet:  If you are not getting enough of the vitamin B-12 and Folate, you are at risk for anemia, which is characterized by your body not producing enough red blood cells and causing you to have low blood pressure.
• Severe Allergic Reaction:  Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that is life-threatening.  This can cause swollen throat, hives, itching, breathing problems, and a drop in blood pressure.
• Severe Infection:  Septicemia is a type of infection that enters the bloodstream.  This can lead to septic shock, which is a life-threatening drop in blood pressure. 
  

There are certain medications that can cause low blood pressure.  Those medications include:

• Alpha blockers
• Beta blockers
• Drugs for Parkinson's Disease
• Diuretics
• Sildenafil (Viagra)
• Some antidepressants

Be sure to speak to your doctor if you are taking any of these medications and you also have low blood pressure.

Risk Factors for Developing Low Blood Pressure

    We have already discussed some of the medications that may cause you to be at risk for developing low blood pressure, but now it is time to talk about some other risk factors.  Age is a factor, particularly in the very young and those over 65.  Also certain diseases, such as diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and heart conditions can put you at greater risk of having low blood pressure. 

Effects of Low Blood Pressure

     As you know, low blood pressure can cause you to feel dizzy and weak.  This may lead to you fainting.  If you faint, you can risk injury when you fall.  Also having severely low blood pressure can deprive your body of the necessary oxygen and cause damage to your heart and your brain.  Now in order to truly understand the effects of low blood pressure, we need to understand the different types of low blood pressure because they all have different effects.

Low blood pressure can make you feel dizzy, lightheaded, and even make you have trouble concentrating.

Postural or Orthostatic Hypotension

     This type of low blood pressure exists when you have a sudden drop in blood pressure upon standing from a sitting or laying down position.  When this happens, you may feel dizziness, lightheadedness, blurred vision, and sometimes even fainting.  Postural hypo tension can occur for a number of reasons.  One of these reasons is dehydration.  Medical conditions such as diabetes, heart problems, varicose veins, and neurological disorders can also cause postural hypotension.  Pregnancy, prolonged bed rest, excessive heat, and burns can also be factors.  Also drugs used to treat high blood pressure can cause posturla hypotension.  This form of high blood pressure is often present in older adults.  In young people, it is usually harmless.

Postural Hypotension affects seniors more than any other group.  Postprandial hypotension also affects seniors.

Postprandial Hypotension

      Postprandial Hypotension is low blood pressure that happens right after eating.  This typically affects older people.  What  happens is that after you eat, a lot of blood goes into your digestive tract.  Your body should counteract this by increasing your heart rate and constricting blood vessels in order to maintain normal blood pressure.  When this fails, dizziness, faintness, and falls occur.  This is most likely to affect people with high blood pressure or Parkinson's disease.  Also eating smaller meals with low carbs and lowering the dose of the blood pressure drugs may help reduce the symptoms of postprandial hyptension.

Neurally Mediated Hypotension

     This type of low blood pressure causes blood pressure to drop after standing for long periods of time, which leads to dizziness, nausea, and fainting.  Neurally mediated hypotension typically affects young people, and this seems to happen due to a miscommunication between the brain and the heart.  When you are standing for long periods of time, your blood pressure falls as the blood pools in your legs.  People with neurally mediated hypotension signal the brain that the blood pressure is too high instead of too low.  As a result, the brain lowers the heart rate which decreases the blood pressure further.  This then leads to lightheadedness and fainting. 

Neurally Mediated Hypotension tends to affect young people the most.

Multiple System Atrophy With Orthostatic Hypotension

     This disorder is very rare, yet it causes progressive damage to the autonomic nervous system, which controls heart rate, breathing, digestion, and blood pressure.  Unfortunately, multiple system atrophy has no cure and ends up being a terminal condition, as patients typically pass away within 7 to 10 years after being diagnosed.

Treatment of Hypotension

Here are some suggestions for how you can help raise your blood pressure which will result in the reduction of symptoms.

• Eat more salt.  Sodium can raise your blood pressure.  Excess salt can cause health problems, such as heart failure, so be sure to ask your doctor before increasing your salt intake.
• Drink more water.  Fluids actually increase your blood volume and will help keep you from becoming dehydrated.  This is important because then you are less likely to have low blood pressure problems.
• Wear compression stockings.  These stockings can help reduce the amount of blood that is pooling in your legs.
• Medications.  There are a number of medications that can be prescribed to you to treat your low blood pressure.  Speak to your doctor about the right medications for you.
• Avoid alcohol.  Alcohol is dehydrating.  It can lower your blood pressure.
• Eat a healthy diet.  Eat a variety of healthy foods, such as whole grains, lean chicken and fish, vegetables, and fruit. 
  
• Don't move quickly when changing body positions.  A lot of times the blurred vision, lightheadedness, and fainting occurs from getting up too quickly.  When you wake up in the morning, first move to a sitting position.  Stay there for a few minutes and breathe deeply.  Then stand up when you feel ready.  Also sleeping with the head of your bed elevated can help reduce your symptoms.
• Eat smaller meals with lots of carbs.  This will help keep your blood pressure from dropping quickly right after you eat. 
  

To review, the main effects of low blood pressure are lightheadedness, dizziness, blurred vision, lack of concentration, nausea, and fainting. 

Increasing your salt intake is one possible treatment for low blood pressure, but be sure to speak to your doctor first.

Drinking water is important to keep from becoming dehydrated, which will cause low blood pressure.

Healthy foods are important for keeping your blood pressure regulated, such as whole grain breads, lean chicken and fish, and plenty of fruits and vegetables.