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Low blood pressure is rarely a problem and in most cases it is beneficial. Studies show that the lower your blood pressure, the lower your risk of cardiovascular disease.
Low blood pressure is an abnormal condition where a person's blood pressure (pressure of the blood against the walls of the blood vessels during and after each beat of the heart) is much lower than usual, which can cause symptoms such as dizziness or lightheadedness.
When the blood pressure is too low, there is inadequate blood flow to the heart, brain, and other vital organs.
The term "hypotension" is usually used only when blood pressure has fallen so far that enough blood can no longer reach the brain, causing dizziness and fainting.
Blood pressure is a measure of the pressure in the arteries created by the heart contracting. During the day, a normal person's blood pressure changes constantly, depending on activity. Low blood pressure can be diagnosed by taking the blood pressure with a sphygmomanometer.
Blood pressure is recorded as systolic (higher) and diastolic (lower) pressures. A healthy young adult has a blood pressure of about 110/75, which typically rises with age to about 140/90 by age 60 (a reading now considered mildly elevated).
In some cases where the ability of the nerves to conduct signals are impaired by various diseases low blood pressure can result from a malfunction.
Low blood pressure is commonly caused by drugs such as the following
Medications used for surgery
Anti-anxiety agents
Treatment for high blood pressure
Diuretics
Heart medicines
Some antidepressants
Narcotic analgesics
Alcohol
Other causes of low blood pressure include the following:
Dehydration
Heart failure
Heart attack
Changes in heart rhythm
Anaphylaxis (a life-threatening allergic response)
Shock (from severe infection, stroke, anaphylaxis, major trauma, or heart attack)
Advanced diabetes
In many instances, low blood pressure isn't serious. Even occasional dizziness or lightheadedness may be relatively minor — the result of mild dehydration, low blood sugar or too much time in the sun or a hot tub, for example. In these situations, it's not a matter so much of how far, but of how quickly, your blood pressure drops. Still, it's important to see your doctor if you experience any signs or symptoms of hypotension because they sometimes can point to more serious problems. It can be helpful to keep a record of your symptoms, when they occur and what you were doing at the time.
Even moderate postural, postprandial or neurally mediated hypotension can seriously affect quality of life, leading not only to dizziness and weakness but also to fainting and a risk of injury from falls. And severely low blood pressure from any cause can deprive your body of enough oxygen to carry out its normal functions, leading to damage to your heart and brain.
medgrip.com is a purely informational website, and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical help