INTRODUCTION TO LOW BLOOD PRESSURE
Low Blood Pressure, also called HYPOTENSION is when the Blood Pressure low enough, that the flow of blood to the organs of the body is inadequate and symptoms and/or signs of low blood flow develop.
Low blood pressure might seem desirable, and for some people, it causes no problems. However, for many people, abnormally low blood pressure (hypotension) can cause dizziness and fainting. In severe cases, low blood pressure can be life-threatening.
A blood pressure reading lower than 80 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) for the top number (systolic) or 60 mm Hg for the bottom number (diastolic) is generally considered low blood pressure.
What is low blood pressure and what does the numbers mean on the sphygmomanometer?
Blood pressure is the force exerted by circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels. It constitutes one of the critically important signs of life or vital signs, which include heart rate, breathing, and temperature. Blood pressure is generated by the heart pumping blood into the arteries modified by the response of the arteries to the flow of blood.
An individual's blood pressure is expressed as systolic/diastolic blood pressure, for example, 120/80.
The systolic blood pressure (the top number) represents the pressure in the arteries as the muscle of the heart contracts and pumps blood into them.
The diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) represents the pressure in the arteries as the muscle of the heart relaxes following its contraction.
Blood pressure always higher when the heart is pumping (squeezing) than when it is relaxing.
Note: The range of systolic blood pressure for most healthy adults falls between 90 and 130 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). Normal diastolic blood pressure ranges between 60 and 80 mm Hg.
Current guidelines define normal blood pressure range as lower than 120/80 (Systolic/Diastolic). Blood pressures over 130/80 are considered high. High blood pressure increases the risk of damaging the arteries, which leads to the development of:
•Heart disease
•Kidney disease
•Hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis or arteriosclerosis)
•Eye damage
•Stroke
Low blood pressure (hypotension) is pressure that so low which causes symptoms or signs due to the low flow of blood through the arteries and veins. When the flow of blood is too low to deliver enough oxygen and nutrients to vital organs such as the brain, heart, and kidney, the organs do not function normally and may be temporarily or permanently damaged.
Unlike high blood pressure, low blood pressure is defined primarily by signs and symptoms of low blood flow and not by a specific blood pressure number. Some individuals routinely may have blood pressure numbers of 90/50 with no symptoms and therefore do not have low blood pressure. However, others who normally have higher blood pressures may develop symptoms of low blood pressure if their blood pressure drops to 100/60.
During pregnancy, blood pressure tends to decrease. Normal blood pressure during pregnancy may be lower than 100/60.
Is low blood pressure dangerous?
People who have lower blood pressures have a lower risk of stroke, kidney disease, and heart disease.
Athletes, people who exercise regularly, people who maintain ideal body weight, and nonsmokers tend to have lower blood pressures. Low blood pressure is desirable as long as it is not low enough to cause symptoms and damage to the organs in the body.
TYPES OF LOW BLOOD PRESSURE
Doctors often break down low blood pressure (hypotension) into categories, depending on the causes and other factors.
Some types of low blood pressure includes:
Low blood pressure on standing up (orthostatic, or postural, hypotension): This is a sudden drop in blood pressure when you stand up from a sitting position or after lying down.
Orthostatic hypotension can occur for various reasons, including dehydration, prolonged bed rest, pregnancy, diabetes, heart problems, burns, excessive heat, large varicose veins and certain neurological disorders.
Low blood pressure after eating (postprandial hypotension): This sudden drop in blood pressure after eating affects mostly older adults.
Blood flows to your digestive tract after you eat. Ordinarily, your body increases your heart rate and constricts certain blood vessels to help maintain normal blood pressure. But in some people these mechanisms fail, leading to dizziness, faintness and falls as their symptoms
Low blood pressure from faulty brain signals (neurally mediated hypotension): This disorder, which causes a blood pressure drop after standing for long periods, mostly affects young adults and children. It seems to occur because of a miscommunication between the heart and the brain.
Low blood pressure due to nervous system damage (multiple system atrophy with orthostatic hypotension): Also called Shy-Drager syndrome, this rare disorder causes progressive damage to the autonomic nervous system, which controls involuntary functions such as blood pressure, heart rate, breathing and digestion. It's associated with having very high blood pressure while lying down.
Risk factors
Low blood pressure (hypotension) can occur in anyone, though certain types of low blood pressure are more common depending on your age or other factors:
•Age: Drops in blood pressure on standing or after eating occur primarily in adults older than 65. Neurally mediated hypotension primarily affects children and younger adults.
•Medications: People who take certain medications, for example, high blood pressure medications such as alpha blockers, have a greater risk of low blood pressure.
•Certain diseases: Parkinson's disease, diabetes and some heart conditions put you at a greater risk of developing low blood pressure.
DIAGNOSIS
There are several measures in which Low blood Pressure can be diagnosed, few of the are :
• CBC(Complete Blood Count): This may reveal anemia from blood loss or elevated white blood cells due to infection.
• Blood electrolyte: These measurements may show dehydration and mineral depletion, renal failure (kidney failure), or acidosis (excess acid in the blood).
Cortisol levels can be measured to diagnose adrenal insufficiency and Addison's disease.
• Blood and urine cultures: This can be performed to diagnose septicemia and bladder infections, respectively.
Radiology studies, such as chest X-rays, abdominal ultrasounds, and computerized tomography (CT or CAT) scans may detect pneumonia, heart failure, gallstones, pancreatitis, and diverticulitis.
• Electrocardiograms (ECG): This can detect abnormally slow or rapid heartbeats, pericarditis, and heart muscle damage from either previous heart attacks or a reduced supply of blood to the heart muscle that has not yet caused a heart attack.
• Holter monitor recordings : These are used to diagnose intermittent episodes of abnormal heart rhythms. If abnormal rhythms occur intermittently, a standard EKG performed at the time of a visit to the doctor's office may not show the abnormal rhythm. A Holter monitor is a continuous recording of the heart's rhythm for 24 hours that often is used diagnose intermittent episodes of bradycardia or tachycardia (aslow or fast heart rate).
Conditions that can cause low blood pressure
Medical conditions that can cause low blood pressure include:
•Pregnancy: Because the circulatory system expands rapidly during pregnancy, blood pressure is likely to drop. This is normal, and blood pressure usually returns to your pre-pregnancy level after you've given birth.
•Heart problems: Some heart conditions that can lead to low blood pressure include extremely low heart rate (bradycardia), heart valve problems, heart attack and heart failure.
•Endocrine problems: Thyroid conditions such as parathyroid disease, adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease), low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and, in some cases, diabetes can trigger low blood pressure.
•Dehydration:When your body loses more water than it takes in, it can cause weakness, dizziness and fatigue. Fever, vomiting, severe diarrhea, overuse of diuretics and strenuous exercise can lead to dehydration.
•Blood loss: Losing a lot of blood, such as from a major injury or internal bleeding, reduces the amount of blood in your body, leading to a severe drop in blood pressure.
TREATMENTS
Low blood pressure that either doesn't cause signs or symptoms or causes only mild symptoms rarely requires treatment.
If it's not clear what's causing low blood pressure or no treatment exists, the goal is to raise your blood pressure and reduce signs and symptoms. Depending on your age, health and the type of low blood pressure you have, you can do this in several ways:
•Use more salt:Experts usually recommend limiting salt in your diet because sodium can raise blood pressure, sometimes dramatically. For people with low blood pressure, that can be a good thing.
But because excess sodium can lead to heart failure, especially in older adults, it's important to check with your doctor before increasing the salt in your diet.
•Drink more water: Fluids increase blood volume and help prevent dehydration, both of which are important in treating hypotension.
•Wear compression stockings: The elastic stockings commonly used to relieve the pain and swelling of varicose veins can help reduce the pooling of blood in your legs.
•Medications: Several medications can be used to treat low blood pressure that occurs when you stand up (orthostatic hypotension). For example, the drug fludrocortisone, which boosts your blood volume, is often used to treat this form of low blood pressure.
•Eat a healthy diet:Get all the nutrients you need for good health by focusing on a variety of foods, including whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean chicken and fish.
CONCLUSION
Low blood pressure can be as deadly as High blood pressure if not mainted to be normal. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of the LBP, please consult your Doctor for a proper diagnosis and prescription to enhance the pressure to a normal level.
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