There's no lack of information about hypertension and its effects on the heart, kidney, and other organs. Americans are repeatedly urged to get their blood pressure checked and have elevated readings evaluated by their doctor. Although evaluation and treatment of high blood pressure is emphasized, little is said about blood pressure readings that are below the norm. When should you be concerned about low blood pressure?
Unlike hypertension which is defined as blood pressure that exceeds a certain level, usually 120/80, on a consistent basis, there are no set criteria for determining when blood pressure is too low. Low blood pressure is usually defined as pressure that's low enough to cause symptoms relating to decreased blood flow to vital organs such as the brain and kidneys. Some people may have a blood pressure well below the established range of normal and be completely symptom-free whereas another person will manifest low blood pressure symptoms. It's the latter situation where most physicians become concerned about low blood pressure.
What are the symptoms of low blood pressure? One commonly seen low blood pressure symptom is dizziness or lightheadedness when rising from a stooped over or sitting position. This is known as orthostatic hypotension or postural hypotension. Other low blood pressure symptoms include a generalized feeling of weakness, feeling faint, a sensation of being cold or nauseous, and recurrent feelings of dizziness. If severe, low blood pressure can cause loss of consciousness.
Sometimes low blood pressure symptoms can be brought on by particular situations or circumstances. One common one is being dehydrated from not drinking enough liquids or loss of sodium due to sweating. This is sometimes seen in people who work outdoors in the hot sun. Low blood pressure can also be caused by a drop in blood sugar, particularly in diabetics. Certain medications such as heart and blood pressure medications, anti-depressants, some pain medications, and diuretics can cause the blood pressure to drop and result in low blood pressure symptoms.
Some serious causes of low blood pressure symptoms include a sudden loss of blood due to internal bleeding which usually causes a pronounced drop in blood pressure. Certain types of chronic heart problems can also manifest as low blood pressure. All of these cases need immediate evaluation by a doctor.
Chances are you don't need to be concerned about low blood pressure if you feel fine and have no symptoms of dizziness or lightheadedness. Some individuals have a tendency to run lower blood pressures due to genetic factors or being highly conditioned from aerobic exercise. In these cases, as a general rule, no treatment is needed.
If you have low blood pressure symptoms, you should always consult your doctor for a workup to determine the cause. Treatment may involve a change in medications or treatment of a heart condition. If you're concerned about low pressure, some simple ways to control it include drinking lots of liquids and consuming more salt when working in hot temperatures, limiting caffeine, avoiding moving suddenly from a sitting to a standing position, and eating small, regular meals to prevent a drop in blood sugar.
If your blood pressures consistently run low and you feel like a million dollars, it's reassuring to know you don't need to be concerned about low blood pressure.
