What Are the Causes of Unstable Blood Pressure?

A diagnosis of unstable blood pressure can be caused by a multitude of factors, illnesses and disease processes. Unstable blood pressure can provoke a variety of symptoms, including but not limited to dizziness, shortness of breath, instability, fainting and erratic heart rhythms. Understanding a few of the causes of unstable blood pressure can guide individuals to seek medical advice, prognosis and treatment to prevent complications such as limitations of physical activities, fainting, pain, injury or heart disease.

Angina

• Angina is the medical name for chest pain caused by inadequate oxygen to certain areas of the heart muscle. The condition is only one of the symptoms associated with coronary artery disease and causes erratic heart beat. Unstable blood pressure caused by angina is often treated with either noninvasive treatments such as changes in lifestyle, diet and exercise or through various forms of surgery, from stents to angioplasty.

Premature Vascular Contractions

• Premature vascular contractions, more commonly known as PVCs, are erratic and nonregular contractions of the valves in the heart that normally regulate blood flow into and out of the chambers of the heart. Such abnormal heart rhythm also causes unstable blood pressure.

High Blood Pressure

• Unstable blood pressure or hypertension can lead to heart attacks, strokes and even conditions such as kidney failure. High blood pressure is typically caused by narrowing of the arteries, which can be caused by high cholesterol, chronic stress or anxiety and obesity.

Coronary Artery Disease

• Coronary artery disease, commonly known as CAD, is a leading cause of unstable blood pressure and is usually caused by a build up of plaque inside arteries that interrupts blood flow, or slows it down, leading to inadequate oxygenation of organs, tissues and cells throughout the body.

Additional Causes

• Unstable blood pressure is also directly related to additional illnesses and disease conditions such as kidney failure, Parkinson's disease and chronic pain or injury caused by brain trauma or disease.