Low Blood Pressure Symptoms & Causes

Low blood pressure, or hypotension, is not as common a health problem in the general population as high blood pressure, but can be a serious condition. While many healthy people, especially athletes, may have a lower blood pressure reading than a less healthy person, sometimes lower blood pressure is indicative of a health problem that needs to be addressed. Low blood pressure that presents with symptoms is more likely to be problematic and serious.

Facts

• Low blood pressure, or hypotension, is defined as a blood pressure reading of less than 90/60. Normal blood pressure is around 120/80. The first number in the reading, the systolic, measures the pressure when the heart beats and fills the arteries with blood. The second number, the diastolic, measures the pressure between beats. For a diagnosis of low blood pressure, either number can be lower than normal. You can have a normal systolic reading and a lower diastolic and still be diagnosed as having low blood pressure.

Types

• One type of hypotension is postural hypotension. This type of low blood pressure is particularly likely to affect the elderly. About 10-20% of people over 65 are believed to have this type. This hypotension causes dizziness upon standing and is due to a sudden drop in blood pressure with the change of position. Another type of hypotension is postprandial, and is a sudden drop of blood pressure after eating. This is usually found in conjunction with other conditions.

Causes of Chronic Hypotension

• Some of the causes of a chronic low blood pressure reading include pregnancy, thyroid problems, diabetes, heart conditions, problems with the blood vessels, heat stroke or exhaustion, liver conditions, and overdosing on high blood pressure medications.

Causes of Sudden Hypotension

• Some causes for a sudden drop in blood pressure include a high fever, or conversely a low body temperature, heart disease, blood loss, severe dehydration, and severe allergic reactions such as a serious reaction to a bee sting.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of hypotension include dizziness, fainting, vision problems (especially blurred vision), nausea, skin that is pale and cool or clammy, low energy, unusual thirst, depressed mood, inability to concentrate, and breathing that is shallow or rapid.

Warning

• Low blood pressure that causes symptoms is much more likely to be serious, and may be due to another serious medical problem. Anyone experiencing symptoms of hypotension should seek a physician's care. Low blood pressure symptoms can mean that blood is not flowing as it should to the heart or other vital organs.