Hypotension, or low blood pressure, is much less common and in many cases less serious than hypertension. People with low blood pressure can be healthy and active, and may not experience any negative side effects from their condition. This is true especially of top athletes. However, if blood pressure becomes too low and is accompanied by symptoms such as dizziness or fainting, it may be the result of a more serious underlying problem.
While there are strict guidelines for defining hypertension, low blood pressure is much harder to quantify because it varies so greatly from person to person. Low blood pressure is loosely defined as a systolic reading less than 90 mm/Hg or a diastolic reading less than 60 mm/Hg. It only takes one low number, either systolic or diastolic, to indicate a low blood pressure. So it is possible that you could have an ideal systolic pressure of 115 and still have low blood pressure if your diastolic or bottom number is below 60.
Because low blood pressure is so relative, physicians typically will not diagnose you with hypotension unless you experience an accompanying symptom. These symptoms include:
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Inability to concentrate
- Blurred vision
- Thirst
- Nausea
- Rapid or shallow breathing
- Fatigue
- Cold, clammy skin
Possible causes of low blood pressure include:
- pregnancy
- certain medications
- low heart rate
- a heart valve problem
- hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism
- Addison's disease
- hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
- diabetes
- dehydration
- a severe infection
- an allergic reaction
- nutritional deficiencies such as anemia
As you can see, hypotension can be caused by a variety of conditions. For this reason, there are many different ways to treat low blood pressure. Depending on the cause, treatment can include increasing your salt intake, drinking more water, wearing compression hosiery, avoiding alcoholic beverages or ceasing to take certain medications.
You should consult your doctor before beginning any treatment for hypotension.
While the effects of hypotension may seem mild, it is important that you tell your doctor if you are experiencing any of the symptoms. Extremely low blood pressure can deprive your brain and other organs of necessary oxygen and nutrients, which could be fatal if gone untreated.
