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Low blood pressure: Is it always bad?
Dr. Zulfikar Bux, GPHC’s A&E Head
By Dr Zulfikar Bux
Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine
Having low blood pressure is not always bad and may be a good thing for some patients who unnecessarily worry about it. What’s considered low blood pressure for you may be normal for someone else. Today I will attempt to help you understand the reality behind low blood pressure so that you can realize that it may be a good thing and not always bad.
When is it too low?
Experts often define low blood pressure as readings lower than 90 mm Hg systolic (top reading) or 60 mm Hg diastolic (bottom reading). If either number is below that, your pressure is lower than normal. In addition to this, if you have a sudden fall in blood pressure, it can be dangerous although it does not reach 90/60. A change of just 20 mm Hg — a drop from 110 systolic to 90 mm Hg systolic, for example — can cause dizziness and fainting when the brain fails to receive an adequate supply of blood.
What are symptoms of low blood pressure?
Check your blood pressure if you’re having the following symptoms:
• lightheadedness or dizziness
• feeling sick
• blurred vision
• generally feeling weak
• confusion
• fainting
These may all be symptoms that your blood pressure is too low.
What conditions cause low blood pressure?
The following medical conditions can lead to low blood pressure:
• Pregnancy.
• Heart problems
• Endocrine problems such as thyroid conditions, diabetes, adrenal insufficiency
• Dehydration
• Excessive bleeding
• Severe infection (septicemia)
• Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)
• Lack of nutrients in your diet
• Using medications that lower blood pressure
How is low blood pressure treated?
Treatment for low blood pressure depends on the cause. If a cause can be found, your doctor will be able to recommend treatment to ease your symptoms. If you are not having any symptoms and there is no obvious medical condition causing your low blood pressure, your doctor may wait to see how you progress; this is often, the best way to go. However, if you are symptomatic, your doctor may recommend changing medicines or altering your dose, if this is the cause. Wearing support stockings can improve circulation and increase blood pressure. Medicine to increase blood pressure is rarely needed because simple lifestyle measures or treating the underlying cause is usually effective.
What can you do to help your low blood pressure symptoms?
What you should do:
• get up slowly from sitting to standing
• take care when getting out of bed – move slowly from lying to sitting to standing
• keep the head of your bed elevated
• eat small, frequent meals – lying down or sitting still for a while after eating may also help
• increase the amount of water you drink
What you shouldn’t do:
• do not sit or stand for long periods
• do not bend down or change posture suddenly
• do not drink caffeinated drinks at night
• do not drink too much alcohol
Remember that low blood pressure is not always bad. 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.
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