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How To Manage & Prevent Low Blood Pressure?

Fall in Low Blood Pressure might be due to temporary reasons. But it is still important to know all about low blood pressure because you never know what you might be suffering from despite being very careful in life.

Low blood pressure is a common occurrence among people aged 60 plus. Low blood pressure or hypotension is a condition where the pressure of the blood in the blood vessel is usually low.

Normal blood pressure range falls anywhere between 90/60mm Hg and 130/80mm Hg; therefore, a person is said to be suffering from low blood pressure if the BP value is under 90 / 60mm Hg and from high blood pressure if it is above 130/80mm Hg (Read more about High Blood Pressure). The causes for such a condition are many things, such as age, weather, medication, injury, illness, or as part of the normal up and down fluctuations that happen during the day.

Although many times it is harmless, the condition can be life-threatening if you start to show symptoms like dizziness, confusion, or falls. (Related to heart problems, diabetes)

How low is too low

Major causes of low blood pressure are your diet and lifestyle. If you carefully monitor your daily activities and intake, you can easily avoid an episode. An active person is said to have a blood pressure value of 140/70 mm Hg.

When you are not able to recover from a low blood pressure episode within few minutes or an hour or the occurrence of the episodes are frequent, then it is suggested that you visit a doctor and get a check-up done.

Usually, when one suffers from an episode, there are no prescribed drugs to help raise blood pressure since treating the underlying cause is usually all the treatment needed. If the occurrence is repetitive, fludrocortisone or midodrine, are generally prescribed.

Probable causes

Pregnancy- This is quite normal and the blood pressure usually gets back to normal after giving birth.
Heart Problems- Some heart conditions will lead to low blood pressure as it prevents the body from circulating enough blood
Dehydration- Even mild dehydration can cause weakness and dizziness. The dehydrated body loses more water than what is taken in.
Blood loss- Whether it is because of an injury or internal bleeding, loss of blood results can make you feel weak and dizzy.
Severe infection/ allergy- When infection and allergy have reached a point where it starts to enter the bloodstream, the drop can be life-threatening and sometimes even fatal.
Endocrine difficulties- Diabetes, low blood sugar and thyroid problems can also lead to a drop in pressure.

Hypotension which is predominantly manifested by light headedness or dizziness should be evaluated properly by a physician as hypotension is far more dangerous than hypertension.
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD

Prevention

Don’t stand up too quickly- When you are lying down or getting up from a chair, stand up gradually. Sudden movement can often result in a drop of pressure.
Drink lots of water- Staying hydrated is really important. If it is really hot outside or you are doing enough to burn your calories, make sure to drink a lot of water.
Avoid caffeine, energy drinks, soft drinks, and alcohol- These drinks can cause one to lose more fluid in the body than gain it. So avoid such consumption as much as possible.
Don’t stand in one place for too long- If you stand in one place for too long the brain commands your heart to start beating slow as it assumes that your blood pressure is rising since there is a lot of blood pooling near the leg.
Have a meal or a snack one in every two hours- Your body deserved a balanced diet. Make sure you have enough nutrient intake in order to stay healthy.

If your blood pressure drops too low, your body’s vital organs do not get enough oxygen and nutrients. When this happens, low blood pressure can lead to shock, which requires immediate medical attention.
Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D

Low Blood Pressure Signs and Symptoms to Watch For

If you are regularly checking your blood pressure at home, you should be aware that normal blood pressure fluctuates during the day. For example, while resting or sleeping blood pressure is lower than when you are active. This is not a cause for alarm. Here are a few low blood pressure symptoms to keep an eye out for in case you are not monitoring it often:

Blurry vision or difficulty seeing properly
Depression, cognitive problems like confusion and difficulty focusing
Fatigue, feeling low or tired, feeling dizzy or fainting
Dehydration, feeling extra thirsty
Sudden sweating (even when it isn’t hot)
Feeling the chills
Feeling like vomiting
Fast and shallow breaths (similar to hyperventilating)

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

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Hypotension: It’s Types, Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

In medical parlance, Hypotension is basically low blood pressure. In this condition, the blood pressure typically falls below a Systolic value of 90 and a Diastolic value of 60.

Within prescribed limits, a low blood pressure reading is generally good. However, sometimes this condition can result in dizziness and tiredness. But if there are no adverse symptoms as such, then there is nothing to worry about.

Types of Hypotension

Health issues start to crop up when the blood pressure drops suddenly and the brain is deprived of an adequate supply of oxygen.

These sudden drops occur when a person stands up from a lying down or sitting position. This kind of Hypotension is called Postural Hypotension.
For some patients, the blood pressure may also fall when standing for a long period of time. This type of low blood pressure is called Neurally Mediated Hypotension.
If a patient faints because of the body’s overreaction to certain triggers, it is called Vasovagal Syncope.
Some people always record low blood pressure. This form of Hypotension is called Chronic Asymptomatic Hypotension and is usually unharmful.

Additionally, shock can also cause a sudden and strong drop in blood pressure called severe hypotension. Shock is usually caused by an injury or an infection. Another form of hypotension occurs in people who take medication for hypertension (high blood pressure). This can happen either due to too much medication, changes in the body or due to dietary choices (certain foods can lower blood pressure).

Causes of Hypotension

The dropping of blood pressure is a normal scenario. However, certain conditions cause extended periods of Hypotension such as:

Infections in the bloodstream
Diabetes
Thyroid
Blood loss due to injury
Weakness due to dehydration
Pregnancy
Hypertension and antidepressant medications
Dehydration (caused by vomiting, diarrhoea, not drinking enough water)
Heart conditions that affect circulation
Allergic reactions

Hypotension causes cover a wide range of things, treating these underlying causes will usually return your pressure to normal.

Older adults also have a higher risk of symptoms of low blood pressure, such as falls, fainting, or dizziness when standing or after a meal.[4] If the blood pressure is sufficiently low, fainting (syncope) may occur
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD

Symptoms of Hypotension

Some noticeable symptoms that should raise alarm bells include:

Unsteadiness
Blurry vision
Lack of concentration
Fatigue
Depression
Nausea
Pale skin
Rapid and low breathing

Hypotension symptoms may also include lightheadedness, dizziness, sweaty/clammy skin and fainting.

Hypotension in pregnancy can have a severe impact on the mother and the baby as it may cause brain damage to the fetus, cause low birth weight or premature birth.
Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D.

Treatment

For many patients, these underlying symptoms can be effectively addressed by bringing about relevant changes in the diet and lifestyle.

Simple, good to implement practices are:

Limit the intake of alcoholic beverages.
Increase the intake of water during hot, torrid weather conditions and especially when down with a viral infection.
Adhere to a high-salt intake diet.
Participate in regular physical activities to augment the blood flow.
Avoid standing or sitting in one position for a long duration.
Be prudent and cautious while arising from a lying down and sitting position. One best practice: Thrust your feet and ankles with force a couple of times before you stand up, this will help to aid blood circulation. In the morning, when you are ready to get out of bed, sit upright on the edge of the bed for a few moments and then stand. This will give you better control as you stand up on your feet.
To avoid periods of dizziness, try eating light and smaller meals at regular intervals and evade any strenuous activities immediately post eating.
Cut down on your carbohydrate intake.
Consult a doctor on the usage of elastic stockings that cover your calf and thigh area. This may help in restricting the blood flow to the lower part of the body thereby keeping more blood in the upper part.