Low blood pressure

Description

Since people with high blood pressure (hypertension) are at a much greater risk of dying prematurely from heart disease or stroke, you probably think low blood pressure would be desirable. However, abnormally low blood pressure, also called low blood pressure, can also cause problems.

The most basic manifestation of hypotension is characterized by dizziness or blurred vision which may increase the risk of falls or accidents. More acute hypotension decreases the volume of circulating blood flow to the brain and other essential organs. This results in a reduction in the supply of oxygen and nutrients to these organs which can no longer function normally. Low blood pressure can also be a sign of a more serious underlying condition.

As blood travels through your body, it presses against the walls of your blood vessels, much like water in a garden hose or air in a tire. This is called blood pressure. With each beat (a contraction), your heart pumps blood into your arteries, which is when blood pressure peaks. This is your systolic pressure. In the interval between its beats, your heart relaxes and the blood flows back inside, your blood pressure is then lower. This is your diastolic pressure.

A blood pressure reading measures these 2 pressures and expresses them as 2 numbers, that of your systolic pressure, which is higher than your diastolic pressure. Normal adult blood pressure is below 120 mmHg and below 80 mmHg (mmHg stands for "millimeters of mercury" and refers to a pressure-measuring device similar to a thermometer).

 A variety of factors affect blood pressure, including your body position, breathing rate, stress level, physical activity, medications, what you eat or drink, and the time of day (blood pressure blood pressure is usually lower at night when you sleep and rises when you wake up). The body of healthy people reacts and adapts to these changes to keep your blood pressure around normal values. This way, vital organs like your brain and kidneys receive a constant supply of blood and nutrients.

Blood pressure is considered low when the systolic pressure drops below 90 mmHg and the diastolic pressure below 60 mmHg. Some people's blood pressure may be low all the time, but represent normal values ​​for them. If they don't see any other signs or symptoms, medical treatment probably won't help. Low blood pressure becomes cause for concern when accompanied by obvious symptoms, such as dizziness, fainting and, in severe cases, shock. When these phenomena occur, affected individuals should seek medical attention to determine if their low blood pressure is due to an underlying disorder.

Causes

Hypotension occurs when the body fails to maintain blood pressure values ​​within normal limits for a healthy person. Low blood pressure can be caused by a variety of factors and can affect people of all ages. However, certain types of hypotension are more common among people in a certain age group.

Orthostatic hypotension occurs as a result of a sudden drop in blood pressure when you go from sitting or lying down to standing up. It affects older people more often.

Neural-mediated hypotension or HMN occurs after prolonged standing or after experiencing sharp pain or strong emotion. This is commonly called syncope. Toddlers have a greater predisposition to this kind of low blood pressure which will resolve spontaneously over time as will the tendency to faint easily. A few people may have low blood pressure after eating. This is called postprandial hypotension.

Other factors can cause low blood pressure:

dehydration - when loss of body fluids occurs faster than you can compensate for it, your blood pressure may drop. Vomiting, fever, acute diarrhea or strenuous exercise can lead to dehydration;

certain medical conditions -

thyroid disorders;

Addison's disease

 (low blood sugar);

heart problems (e.g. heart attack, heart failure, valvular heart disease, very low heart rate);

neurological disorders (e.g. Parkinson's disease) can affect the communication between your brain and the rhythm of your heartbeat;

medicines - some medicines for the treatment of high blood pressure, angina pectoris, Parkinson's disease or depression increase the risk of low blood pressure;

 The blood vessels dilate slightly and this phenomenon contributes to the drop in blood pressure. These changes usually disappear after delivery;

a state of shock - the most severe low blood pressure is caused by a state of shock. This happens when a sudden drop in blood pressure causes the failure of blood flow to vital organs like the brain and kidneys. Shock can be caused by severe blood loss (eg caused by external or internal bleeding), severe infections, burns or allergic reactions.

Symptoms and Complications

Under certain circumstances, the blood pressure of those affected could drop considerably, while they feel in top form. Low blood pressure becomes a concern when it is accompanied by at least one of the following symptoms:

blurred vision;

cold, clammy, pale skin;

confusion;

dizziness;

syncope;

increased breathing rate;

rapid heartbeat;

tiredness;

inability to concentrate;

light-headedness;

nausea;

drowsiness;

of weakness.

In the case of a state of shock, a person may first experience one of the signs or symptoms listed. But without immediate medical attention, loss of consciousness could occur.

Diagnostic

A doctor makes the diagnosis of low blood pressure after measuring your blood pressure with a sphygmomanometer. It may be enough for people who have low blood pressure, but do not observe any other symptoms, to have their blood pressure monitored by a doctor during their routine examinations. If there are signs that suggest an underlying disorder, your doctor may recommend at least one of the following tests to confirm their diagnosis of low blood pressure:

Blood tests - to obtain information about your general health;

an electrocardiogram (ECG) - to measure the heart's electrical activity and identify any problems that may be affecting the heart's blood supply and oxygen supply;

echocardiography - which explores the heart while providing information on its size, shape and function;

a stress test - which is another testing technique, but useful for examining the ability of the heart to function when this organ is subjected to physical exertion or the action of a drug that simulates the effects of physical exercise ;

the Valsalva maneuver - which analyzes the autonomic component of your nervous system responsible for regulating heart rate and blood pressure. This test consists of performing a forced expiration of the air contained in your lungs without letting it escape through your mouth or nose;

tilt test - usually done when your doctor suspects orthostatic hypotension or neuron-mediated hypotension. During this diagnostic test, the person concerned lies on the examination table, which is tilted to elevate the upper part of the body. Moving the table obliquely simulates the change that occurs when moving from a seated or lying position to a standing position. A change in position can trigger dizziness, lightheadedness, or even loss of consciousness for people with orthostatic hypotension or neuron-mediated hypotension (NMH).

Treatment and Prevention

Take into account the cause of your low blood pressure to make certain changes to your lifestyle, or to the medications you use to prevent and alleviate your symptoms. If there is an underlying condition, managing the medical condition will solve the problem of low blood pressure.

The following lifestyle change suggestions may be helpful for people with low blood pressure:

drink more fluids, such as water, to avoid dehydration. Limit your alcohol consumption. Alcohol can cause dehydration even when drunk in moderation; wear compression stockings to prevent blood stagnation in the lower limbs and stimulate blood circulation throughout your body; move slowly from one position to another. Take your time when standing up;

increasing your salt intake may help with low blood pressure. But excessive salt intake could lead to a rise in blood pressure that would be detrimental to your health. Only make this dietary change if recommended by your doctor;

your doctor may recommend a change in your medications if they have determined that they were the cause of your low blood pressure. Fludrocortisone* and midodrine* are 2 medicines he may prescribe for you in special circumstances to help manage low blood pressure;

in the event of shock, emergency medical treatment is required immediately. Shock is life-threatening and requires medical attention.