Low Blood Pressure – When Is it Too Low
When is our blood pressure so low that it is at a dangerous level. Low blood pressure can be more of a problem if it falls below a manageable level, so it is important to monitor your levels constantly if you suffer with this disease.
An acceptable reading that is considered normal for blood pressure is 120/80, but sufferers of low blood pressure can have readings of 90/60, or sometimes even lower.
There is also an acceptable low level for athletes or people who live a very healthy lifestyle, and of course never smoke. It would be very rare for a smoker to have lower than normal blood pressure unless they were unwell or were suffering with some other complaint. However in some people that have an underlying heart disease it could be a warning, or indication of inadequate blood flow into the vital organs. This is particularly prevalent in older people. So if you are one of those people who have low blood pressure but have no symptoms, then you will probably be wondering when is your pressure too low.
What exactly is low blood pressure?
First you must understand just what exactly low blood pressure is. Because your blood pressure alters from person to person, when one of you gets a blood pressure reading of 90 millimeters of mercury (mm hg) or less as systolic blood pressure and 60 mm Hg or less as diastolic blood pressure, eg: 90/60 it is considered to be low blood pressure. We have already established this in the first paragraph, and realized that this pressure is only normal if you are a fit, healthy, clean living non smoker, for the rest of you, bar a few on other medical grounds, you are in trouble and need to take a good hard look at your lifestyle, or your family tree.
Chronic low blood pressure symptoms are a red flag pointing to many other health concerns. These things include serious heart disease, neurological disorders, and many others that can be just as serious. If low blood pressure is not treated in time or corrected, it can make these illnesses force the body to go into shock. This may sound like a far off tale to you, but if you think about our heart and what it does to keep our blood flowing in a controlled manner so that all our organs can function, then you will understand that this is indeed very serious.
I will now endeavor to answer the question, when is low blood pressure too low.
- When you are lying down on bed for a long time and then sit upright you feel like you could pass out.
- An injury or accident that leads to loss of too much blood
- A person who is on medication that helps lower high blood pressure, medications for treatment of heart diseases, Parkinson’s disease, antidepressants or erectile dysfunction
- A patient suffering from endocrine problems like Addison’s disease, low blood sugar, diabetes, parathyroid disease, hypothyroidism, etc.
- Severe septicemia
- Anaphylaxis
- Vitamin B12 deficiency as well as folic acid deficiency
- Dehydration
- Low blood pressure after eating; known as postparandial hypotension
When is low blood pressure too low?
So, when is low blood pressure too low? If the systolic pressure is 115 and diastolic pressure is 50, it is considered to be lower than normal blood pressure. For example, when there is a sudden drop in 130 systolic pressure to 110 systolic pressure, it leads to dizziness, fainting and shock. Thus, a sudden drop in low blood pressure can be considered dangerously life threatening.
Below are some symptoms of low blood pressure that you should look out for if you are at all worried that you could be suffering from hypotension. If you can relate to some or any of these I suggest that you see your family doctor and let him do your blood pressure reading and give you a good health check.
- Excessive thirst
- Sudden depression
- Fatigue
- Shallow breath
- Cold clammy skin that looks pale
- Blurred vision
- Nausea
- Fainting
- Dizziness and light headedness
This all about when is low blood pressure too low. If you suffer from low blood pressure without any symptoms, you should always remain alert.
We have covered the symptoms and now we will look at some of the side effects that low blood pressure can have on you, and your vital organs.
Our blood pressure is at its lowest when we are sleeping, but if, while in this relaxed state it was to drop to 90/60 or lower then that could put our bodies organs into a bit of a panic, and if not taken care of in time, it may lead to dangerous consequences.
I will just run through some of the possible side effects from low blood pressure, or hypotension.
One of the most common signs is nausea. Because the blood flow slows down, there is a lack of oxygen to the brain. This causes gastrointestinal distress which leads to the nausea.
Dizziness and fainting are a result of hypotention,getting up too quickly, or, fast movements will cause this, because the blood is not being pumped through the arteries fast enough to get oxygen to the brain.
Heart disease is a real concern with low blood pressure, because there is not enough pressure for the heart to be able to pump blood to all the parts of the body, this puts a strain on the heart that can lead to heart disease or even cause a heart attack.
The brain is also under stress in this situation because it does not get enough oxygen and blood. This can effect the nervous system, and may result in confusion, mental illness, and even strokes. It can also affect the functioning of other parts of the body, because all parts of the body take direction from the brain.
The Kidneys are also in trouble here because the job of the kidney is to remove the toxins from our bodies. Low blood pressure can slow down this process causing toxins to build up in the blood.
This may all look a little scary but it is a warning for all of us to look after our bodies and get as much exercise as we can, and aim for a healthy lifestyle. If you are concerned that you have low blood pressure, see your doctor as soon as you can.
Low Blood Pressure During Pregnancy
Most pregnant woman experience low blood pressure during their pregnancy, due to the cardiovascular changes that their body is undergoing, as it makes its changes to accommodate the new life it is nourishing. Pregnancy is one of the most wonderful experiences that a woman can have, but sometimes, unwanted health issues like low blood pressure, can make this time a little more uncomfortable than it needs to be.
Low blood pressure during pregnancy can be quite a serious problem, but is a better option to deal with than high blood pressure, which creates a whole new set of problems for a mother. A woman’s cardiovascular system undergoes many changes during pregnancy. Her heart rate increases, and the amount of blood in the body is increased which causes a variation in blood pressure levels. The normal blood pressure count is 120/80,, but in pregnancy, doctors say that a woman’s blood pressure can drop by 5 – 15 points during the first trimester, after that it should get back to normal by the end of the second trimester.
So how will you recognize whether you have low blood pressure during pregnancy or not. Well the symptoms are often similar to the normal ones you would expect when you first get pregnant. They include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fatigue,fainting, and sometimes blurred vision. During this first trimester you need to keep an account of these symptoms and get regular blood pressure checks at your doctor. The main thing and the most important, is that you get plenty of rest at this time, and eat as sensible as you can.
Low Blood Pressure During Pregnancy – Various Causes
Next we will look at low blood pressure during pregnancy, and the various causes. Some of these are ones you can control, and there are a few that you can not. Some things like dehydration, diet, exercise, and a healthy lifestyle, are achievable things that you can do to help yourself. Other things, like the release of certain hormones, and other body changes, are totally out of your control, but to be aware of what is happening inside your body helps you understand the changes better and you learn to cope with them.
Changes going on inside you, like the expansion of your circulatory system, or the pressure being put on your large blood vessels as your uterus enlarges, all are causes of low blood pressure or, hypotension. Low blood sugar during pregnancy can also result in hypotension, as can low iron levels, but these are things that you can control. Your doctor will give you iron, in tablet form, when you first become pregnant, make sure you take these regularly as they are important to your health and the babys.
What to do if your low blood pressure during pregnancy does not return to normal
Hopefully, your low blood pressure will have returned to normal at the end of your second trimester as it should, but sometimes, these hypotension symptoms may be with you until the end of your pregnancy. To avoid things getting too bad try some of these things below.
- Follow a healthy diet to prevent anemia and low blood sugar levels. Eat small meals at frequent intervals and avoid going hungry for long hours.
- Drink plenty of water and other hydrating fluids.
- While getting up from a sitting or lying position, rise slowly and carefully. Avoid sitting or standing in a particular position for a long time.
- Lying on the side is advised than lying on the back. Lying on the back causes the uterus to pressurize the blood vessels, which restricts the flow of blood and lowers blood pressure.
- Regular mild exercises and walking, can prevent the symptoms of low blood pressure during pregnancy by improving blood circulation. Rest often during this.
- Regular visit to the doctor for follow-ups is necessary to rule out any risks related to low blood pressure during pregnancy or otherwise. In case of aggravated symptoms, be sure to take the medications prescribed regularly.
If your low blood pressure during pregnancy symptoms are mild, then you really do not have anything to concern yourself about, but to keep things that way I have added a great food program that is wonderful for pregnant mums.
This diet has everything you need to keep you well and healthy through to the end of your pregnancy and beyond to when you are a nursing mother. Remember these are a guide and the quantities may be too much for you, but balance it out and you will see that it works and you feel great.
- Whole grains including brown rice, brown bread, whole wheat pasta and so on: 7-8 servings
- Fresh and healthy vegetables like carrots, tomatoes, green leafy vegetables, celery etc: 5-6 servings
- Healthy fruits like apples, oranges, all types of berries, water melon, grape fruit etc: 4-6 servings
- 2-3 servings per day of dairy products like milk, yogurt, cheese etc. (low fat of course), also helps in lowering blood pressure.
- Lean meat, fish and poultry items: 2 or less servings
- Legumes, nuts and seeds: 4-5 servings weekly
- Sweets: Less than 5 times in a week
- Fats (no trans fat) and Oils: 2-3 servings in a day
Well there it is. Use it as a guide to your everyday life forever if you want. Low blood pressure during pregnancy or high, this is good for you and your family, so I leave you with all this and the hope that a new life brings.
Low Blood Pressure Readings
Although low blood pressure readings is deemed to be dangerous, many people have, low blood pressure readings for most of their lives, and it is considered normal for them. Your blood pressure, whether it is low, high or within normal range,often depends on your lifestyle, the condition of your health, your age, and also your gender. We will show you how your blood pressure is created, and we will demonstrate to you, how all of the different pressures work for different people, now lets take a look at some of the factors. Blood pressure, is the amount of pressure exerted by our blood on our arteries, when the heart pumps. The number of times your heart pumps blood in your body is called the blood pressure.
To understand what we are dealing with we first need to know a little about general blood pressure readings. To start with, there is of course an ideal range that we should fall into. A normal or ideal blood pressure reading is 120/80. These two figures are the systolic pressure and the diastolic pressure, and both tell a very different story. The higher reading is called the systolic pressure, this is the pressure that the blood puts on the arterial walls when the heart contracts, to pump blood to the arteries. Then you have the lower pressure that is called the diastolic pressure. This is the pressure that the circulating blood pushes against the artery wall when the heart relaxes after a contraction, and which is why it is lower. When the diastolic pressure drops to 60 mm Hg or below, this is considered to be low blood pressure, or hypotension. Blood pressure can also show itself in the systolic, or upper pressure reading. If the systolic pressure reading is 90 mm Hg, or drops below that figure, this too is seen as low blood pressure. So just to recap. Ideal blood pressure readings should be 120/80. The higher reading is the systolic and the lower is the diastolic. The systolic is should always be the higher reading, and when this alters we fall into a category where we are often unwell, and also may be suffering from hypotension, or low blood pressure readings. There are people however, that have consistently low blood pressure, and it is considered in their case to be standard for them. These people though have other constant side effects such as fainting spells, and dizziness as a matter of course. Then we have another type of pressure called labile blood pressures, and this is very different. No one has been able to find a cause for it, or how it can be monitored. The symptoms for labile blood pressure include sudden dizziness, heart palpitations, finding it difficult to concentrate, and often the person cannot focus on any one thing for a small period.
Low Blood Pressure Readings – Controlling the frequency of attacks
So because of the lack of knowledge or information on this form of blood pressure, it is not termed as a decease, or a disorder, because there are no known causes. There are also no constant trigger factors either, so all that leaves a person to do who is suffering with the symptoms of labile pressure, which can come under many things including low blood pressure readings, and high blood pressure, is to try to control the frequency of the attacks. They can do this by:
- Getting regular exercising, because this keeps the blood flowing, and is good cardio for your heart.
- Maintain a healthy diet. Eating the right food will cholesterol levels in check, and there will be less chance of ending up with high blood pressure, also overweight people are at higher risk from blood pressure problems.
- Abstinence from alchohol, and not smoking is absolutely a must if you want to minimize the risk of any disease, including blood pressure related ones.
- Salt is another no no when it comes to your blood pressure and any doctor will back me up on that one. It is important that you work towards having a sodium free diet, People who have a lot of salt suffer, or will in the future, from hypertension.
Many factors decide the risk of labile blood pressure, but the important ones though are the amount of fluctuation that there is and how long it stays above the normal pressure. The increase in blood pressure may be very big or very small, but will greatly depend on outside factors such as stress, or, presence of infection.
pregnancy is a time when people who suffer with labile blood pressure should be monitored very carefully. if you are pregnant and your doctor is not already aware that you suffer from this type of blood pressure problem, then inform him and have him or her check you out for this. Your baby and yourself are very important and should not be put at risk in any way.
I hope this article has been of some benefit in helping you understand more about low blood pressure readings. We are working on new articles all the time to keep you informed, so keep coming back, and watch this space.
Low Blood Pressure And Postural Hypotension
Postural Hypertension is a low blood pressure related disease that few people are aware of, which in turn means that the symptoms of this disorder often go undetected, until they become more prominent and persistent, and can have fatal effects.
In this article I will try to underline low blood pressure, and postural hypotension for you, in an easy to understand manner.
Feeling dizzy or lightheaded when you get up suddenly is a sign of low blood pressure, as is waking after a nights sleep and feeling the same light headiness, or often, people with this complaint have periods when they wake, get out of bed and then find themselves standing motionless for some time. This may sound a little strange, but believe me it’s very real and can be quite upsetting, but is definitely a symptom of postural hypotension.
Having your doctor check your blood pressure regularly is highly recommended if you think that you fall into this category, because it is the best way to monitor your particular form of hypotension, and will prevent further complications.
What is Postural Hypotension?
So what is postural hypotension ? In this condition, when we lie down the blood in the body is distributed evenly but when we stand up our body becomes vertical making the blood flow to the bottom, keeping the top empty, but the body has a mechanism to control this flow which is, that our heart beats faster and increases the amount of blood that is pumped, then with the help of constricting arteries the blood is forced to flow to the upper body towards the heart and brain. However there are certain things that can interfere with this process causing sudden low blood pressure. The condition is more prevalent in older people than in the younger generation, but there are specific times, illnesses, or health conditions when it will affect them too.
There are many reasons why a persons blood pressure may suddenly drop after standing up, or just after getting out of bed but the list below shows some of them.
General dysautonomia
Decreased blood volume
Heart rate disturbance
Failure of blood pressure sensors
Nervous system problems
Involuntary nervous system dysfunction
Blockage of blood vessel
Blockage in cardiac system
Low Blood Pressure Causes
The obvious place to start if you are looking for causes to your low blood pressure is the heart and nervous system. If you have any arterial or circulation problems, or have suffered with any cardiac conditions in the past then your doctor will be keeping a good eye on any out of the ordinary symptoms you may get, but if not, I suggest that you see your doctor if you are at all concerned in this area or can relate to any of the symptoms.
I do not wish to alarm you, but when there are symptoms that show your body is not getting the blood distributed around your body fast enough, then there is a danger that it can have adverse effects on our brain, and heart. If the brain and heart remain deprived of blood for a longer time than necessary, a person may can suffer from brain or heart damage. So I emphasise to you how essential it is to report such experiences as soon as possible to your doctor to avoid any further unwanted episodes.
Below are two charts. One is for low blood pressure and postural hypotension, and the other is for normal blood pressure. You can see the difference between the two is quite marked.
Blood pressure can be considered low even if any one of the numerator or the denominator is lower than the specified normal range here. It means, it is not necessary for both the pressures, systolic or diastolic, to be on the lower side.
This table is the reading for low blood pressure.
| Low Blood Pressure Chart | ||
| Category | Systolic | Diastolic |
| Very Low | 60 | 40 |
| Low | 90 | 60 |
| Dangerously Low | 50 | 33 |
This table presents readings of a healthy individual. Here again you will find three categories of the normal blood pressure which depends on a person’s health condition, age, gender, lifestyle, nature, etc. For example, happy go lucky and workaholic persons will react differently to stressful conditions and hence their blood pressure varies too.
| Normal Blood Pressure Chart | ||
| Category | Systolic | Diastolic |
| Lower Side | 110 | 75 |
| Normal | 120 | 80 |
| Higher Side | 130 | 90 |
Because we are all different, our symptoms and pressure readings will reflect us only, so it is good to get it checked out and not listen to someone else who may think that they have the same problem, or they tell you what their doctor told them, and then advise you to do the same. This is not good advice. Everyones symptoms and the way they are treated are different. Your treatment for your condition will be for you only.
Your doctors first course of action will be to find out what is causing your low blood pressure, and that can take several tests and may take some time, but in the end you will know exactly what caused your particular problem, and how to make it right. Usually after eliminating the underlying causes, a person may be able to maintain ideal blood pressure. Often these symptoms can come from other medication that the person is on, and by just altering their dosage, or changing to a more suitable drug, will clear the symptoms instantly. Other patients are advised to change their body positions safely in order to avoid the low blood pressure symptoms. In the case of heart and nervous system problems, the doctors may prescribe some exercises and medicines for a certain period.
One of the things that has been proved to work really well is some form of regular exercise, and a well balanced diet. The more healthy your lifestyle is, the less problems you will have with low blood pressure or hypotension, you will also keep these things at bay in the same way.
I will leave you with one last piece of sound advice, and that is, that if you think you are or have suffered recently with any low blood pressure related symptoms, then please get checked out by your doctor as soon as you are able. Leaning how to recognize when your body is telling you something is a big plus, and when we are dealing with low blood pressure, or similar, it could mean something more serious, so stay well.