Low blood pressure can be lethal.
Hypotension refers to a blood pressure disorder , where it is at levels much lower than what we would expect in healthy conditions.
A low blood pressure can be asymptomatic, but if it occurs suddenly or reaches levels that are too low, it can have serious consequences.
In this article we will talk about the definition of hypotension. We will also explain what are the main causes of this blood pressure disorder, its symptoms and how it can be treated, to improve our knowledge about this phenomenon.
Hypotension: definition and symptoms
Our usual blood pressure is in the 120/80 mm of mercury range and depends on a variety of factors including a person’s age, physical condition, and medical history. If the values decrease below 90/60 mm of mercury, it can be considered that we have hypotension .
Regardless of our numerical value, if the drop in blood pressure is accompanied by its usual symptoms, it will also be considered that we are suffering from hypotension. Its most common symptoms are :
- Confusion (especially in older people)
- dizziness
- Blurry vision
- overall weakness
- Fainting
Hypotension is not usually a medical emergency unless it is causing symptoms or is linked to serious illness, such as systemic infections or heart disease. In severe cases, hypotension can cause a shock process (Shock, in English), which can be fatal if appropriate treatment is not received quickly.
- You may also be interested in: “Lower blood pressure: 10 ways to achieve it”
Causes and types
Hypotension has multiple causes. For some people, it is natural to have low blood pressure levels without this representing any type of health problem . These people are diagnosed with chronic hypotension, which is usually asymptomatic but worth monitoring.
Other types of hypotension occur suddenly, causing problems for the body. Within these types of rapid voltage drops, we can highlight the 3 most important:
1. Orthostatic hypotension
It is the most common type of hypotension, which occurs when we get up quickly after sitting or lying down . It causes dizziness and even fainting, but its effects hardly last more than a few minutes.
Orthostatic hypotension occurs because our body is unable to adjust blood flow quickly enough after we change posture, causing a drop in blood pressure that takes little time to remedy itself.
It occurs in people of all ages , but especially in the elderly or those with accompanying health problems. Sometimes this type of hypotension is a symptom of another disorder, in which case treating that disorder will remedy the orthostatic hypotension.
People with high blood pressure or central nervous system diseases are at increased risk of a particular type of orthostatic hypotension, postprandial hypotension . This type of hypotension occurs after eating large amounts of food, so that there is a large amount of blood in the intestines for digestion, which facilitates pressure drops when getting up.
2. Neurally mediated hypotension
Neurally mediated hypotension occurs especially in children and young adults . It occurs when blood pressure drops suddenly after standing for long periods of time, with symptoms similar to those of orthostatic hypopressure. In addition, this disorder can also occur in response to a situation that causes us great emotional stress.
It is due to a failure in the communication between the circulatory system and the nervous system. Our body warns of an increase in blood pressure that is not real, which is erroneously compensated by lowering the heart rate, which lowers the pressure even more.
3. Severe hypotension linked to shock
Shock (Shock) is a serious medical situation, which can be fatal and must be treated quickly . It occurs when blood pressure drops so low that various organs, such as the brain and kidneys, do not receive enough blood supply to perform their functions properly. The pressure drop in shock situations is much greater than in other types of hypotension.
This type of hypopressure shock can occur after significant blood loss, systemic infection (sepsis), severe burns, allergic reactions, or poisoning, and should be treated as quickly as possible.
Treatment and advice to control pressure
Hypotension, except for those cases in which it represents a recurring or serious problem, does not require medical treatment.
It is usually remedied with age or by following some preventive practices. Within these we would find the following.
1. Hydration
Hydration is a determining factor of blood pressure. If we stay within correct hydration levels (about 6-8 glasses of water daily), our body’s pressure management will be much easier.
Part of maintaining proper hydration also involves detecting which substances we consume that may be diuretic, such as alcohol or caffeine . We must realize that consuming these types of elements can affect our blood pressure, so we must restrict their consumption to avoid problems.
2. Postural tips
Especially with orthostatic pressure, there are some easy-to-implement tips that decrease the risk of experiencing its symptoms once we get up. For example, not crossing your legs or avoiding getting up suddenly will reduce the chances of getting dizzy when you get up.
3. Dietary changes
Diet also plays a key role in managing hypotension. In fact, we have an article about it . In addition to the consumption of certain foods that can help raise your blood pressure, it is recommended to separate meals into several small meals throughout the day.
In this way we avoid suffering the effects of postprandial hypotension, since by consuming several small meals instead of one very large one (especially if this large meal has many carbohydrates, such as bread or potatoes), we will avoid such a large accumulation of blood in our digestive system, facilitating the control of tension.
4. Use of compression stockings
The compression stockings that are commonly used to treat the appearance and pain related to varicose veins can be of great help if we suffer from hypotension. These stockings compress the circulatory system of our extremities , facilitating the control of blood pressure in the rest of the body.
Be careful, some people have medical conditions that make the use of compression stockings inadvisable. Before putting them on, talk to your doctor to make sure it’s an appropriate method of blood pressure control for your situation.
5. Changes in medication
There are certain medications that cause drops in blood pressure. If we take diuretic medication, antidepressants, or medication used to treat high blood pressure , it is likely that our medication may contribute to hypotension.
We should never change our medical treatment on our own, but if we believe that it may be affecting us negatively, the best thing to do is to talk about it with the doctor who is handling our case. They will assess whether a change in medication is the most appropriate.
Bibliographic references
- Sharma S, Bhattacharya PT. Hypotense. [Updated 2019 June 20]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2019 Jan-. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499961/.
- Warland J. (2012). Low blood pressure. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 12(Suppl 1), A9. doi:10.1186/1471-2393-12-S1-A9.
To the classic question “what do you do?” I always answer “basically I am a psychologist”. In fact, my academic training has revolved around the psychology of development, education and community, a field of study influenced my volunteer activities, as well as my first work experiences in personal services.
