Low Blood Pressure

Low blood pressure is given the medical term “Hypotension” (as opposed to hypertension which is high blood pressure). Low blood pressure occurs when the pressure in the blood vessels falls below normal limits. Although different sources have different criteria for low blood pressure, we can assume that anything below 90/60 is low.

It is very difficult to define exactly what constitutes low blood pressure, since everyone is different. One person may suffer symptoms at 90/60 while another is totally fine at blood pressures which theoretically should have them on their back.

If you have no symptoms there is no reason for concern. Only when blood pressure drops below the level required by your body and cells, is there a real problem. When this happens, you get symptoms.

Symptoms of low blood pressure

• Dizziness
• Lightheadedness
• Fainting

Under severe low pressure, symptoms can include chest pains. Also, without the necessary pressure in the blood, the kidneys cannot filter out the toxins in your blood, and there will be an increase in blood levels of urea and creatine.

Causes of Low Blood Pressure

Low blood pressure can have a variety of causes including:

• Medication, including high blood pressure medicine, and medication for coronary heart disease.
• Anti-anxiety, and anti-depressant drugs.
• Diuretics
• Alcohol
• Dehydration – common when someone has diarrhea and-or vomiting. It is important to drink plenty of fluids (plain water works best) if you are ill with these.
• Slow heart beat
• Inflammation of organs in the body, e.g. acute pancreatitis
• Heart disease – when the walls of the heart become weakened and can no longer pump with the required force.

Should you consult a doctor?

Yes if:

• You lose consciousness when you stand up
• You constantly feel weak, light headed or tired.

Facts on low blood pressure

In younger people, low blood pressure can be a sign of chronic fatigue syndrome.

In older people, low blood pressure can indicate heart disease.

Young women (below 40) may find their blood pressure drops below 90/60 during:

• pregnancy
• hot weather
• dieting

Treatment for Low Blood Pressure

Since any treatment will depend on the cause of your low blood pressure, you must consult your doctor. It may be that some component of your lifestyle has caused the low blood pressure, and simple changes to that can restore your blood pressure to normal.

Blood Pressure Medication

Treating hypertension with medicine

Everybody is different, so you should visit your doctor and get a professional diagnosis and treatment recommendations. Those people suffering from diabetes or kidney problems will have to be treated differently to others.

While there are medications to lower blood pressure, it is a good idea to try the natural “lifestyle” changes approach first, including losing weight, exercise, reducing stress levels, stop smoking, cut back on alcohol, diet, etc.

There are some people who find that acupuncture works to reduce blood pressure. Alternative remedies like this are laughed at by some health professional, but I do think they deserve a mention here.

Some people with very high blood pressure do need to be put on medication quite quickly after diagnosis.

High blood pressure treatments

The following are a list of some common medications used to treat high blood pressure:

Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors) and angiotensin receptor blockers – These stop your body from making a hormone called angiotensin II. This hormones natural role is to cause blood vessels to narrow, so by preventing this narrowing by blocking the hormone, your blood pressure goes down. Possible side effects include headaches, dizziness and an irritating cough.

Beta-blockers – slow your heart beat rate and the force of the heart beat by blocking the effects of adrenaline. This causes blood pressure to be reduced. Possible side effects include : Fatigue and lethargy. Depression, memory loss, dizziness and cold in the extremities are also reported.

Diuretics – or so-called “water-pills”. They help remove excess water and salt from your body. This helps reduce the overall volume of blood in your body, and therefore reduce your blood pressure. Possible side-effects include fatigue, irritability, depression, increase in cholesterol levels, and allergic reactions.

Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) – stop calcium from entering muscle cells in your heart and blood vessels. This causes the muscle to relax, opening the blood vessels and reducing blood pressure. Side effects include tiredness, drowsiness or dizziness, headaches, nausea, constipation (or diarrhea), swelling of the legs or feet, dry mouth.

Alpha-blockers – reduce the nerve impulses that cause constriction of the blood vessels. Side effects include dizziness, fainting and heart palpitations.

Vasodilators - drugs which open up the blood vessels to decrease the pressure of the blood.

You will need to discuss your treatment with your doctor, and the possible side-effects. By trying different medications, you should be able to find a treatment that suits you and minimizes side-effects.

If you are interested, you can read our section on”What causes high blood pressure“.