Low Blood Pressure
From Home Remedies for you.com

While many of us are aware of the hazards of high blood pressure, low blood pressure is equally prevalent and dangerous. When blood pressure falls below the normal pressure level, which is 120/80 mmHg, it is regarded as low blood pressure or hypotension. Hypotension occurs due to the insufficient supply of oxygen (via the blood) to the heart and brain. Consequently, these vital organs cannot function properly, and as a result, they may be suffer damage that could be temporary or even permanent.

The force with which blood pushes against the walls of the arteries is known as blood pressure. When the heart pumps blood into the arteries, the pressure exerted on the arterial walls is known as systolic pressure. When the muscles relax and refill with blood, the pressure falls, and this is known as diastolic pressure. 
Both systolic and diastolic pressures are important. The normal pressure value is 120/80 mmHg, where 120 denotes the systolic pressure and 80 refers to the diastolic pressure. If blood pressure is 90/60 mmHg or less, it is referred to as low blood pressure. It should be noted, however, that blood pressure varies among people, and hence, if someone has a low blood pressure value, but shows no other signs or symptoms of low blood pressure, then he/she is not considered to have low blood pressure. In order to better understand or deal with low blood pressure, it is therefore important to understand the related signs and symptoms of low blood pressure.





So, is low blood pressure as bad as high blood pressure? Well, low BP lowers the risk of stroke, kidney disease, and heart diseases, but while this may make it appear to be almost desirable it does pose very serious health risks when it is considered low . If low blood pressure is accompanied with related signs and symptoms, it could lead to organ damage. In general, people who have an ideal body weight and who workout regularly tend to have lower than normal blood pressure. Low blood pressure as a health condition however does not refer to such individuals, but pertains to individuals in whom low blood pressure readings are low enough to pose a health risk.
Symptoms of Low Blood Pressure
Most people with low blood pressure show no symptoms. For such people, there are no underlying conditions causing the low blood pressure, and hence, no treatment is necessary. However, medical attention is vital when low blood pressure also leads to insufficient supply of blood to the brain and other vital organs. In such a scenario, underlying health conditions lead to hypotension. The common symptoms of hypotension are as follows:
  • Giddiness
  • Blurred vision
  • Palpitations
  • Fatigue
  • Increased thirst
  • Pale skin
  • Fainting
  • Shortness of breath
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Lightheadedness
  • Seizures
Inadequate blood supply to the brain due to low blood pressure results in dizziness, fatigue, and lack of concentration. Changing positions such as going from a seated position to a standing position can lead to dizziness or lightheadedness as well. When one is standing, the blood moves toward the lower body, and this can lower blood pressure. Since the blood pressure of hypotension patients is already low, standing can lower the pressure even further, manifesting in symptoms such as lightheadedness and dizziness. Medically, this is referred to as orthostatic hypotension.

Causes of Low Blood Pressure
Some of the common causes for low blood pressure include the following:
  • Medications: Some medicines such as diuretics that treat high blood pressure, heart medications like beta blockers, and angiotensin may cause low blood pressure. Medicines used to treat anxiety, depression, and central nervous disorders can increase the risk of orthostatic hypotension.
  • Heart Problems: Some heart conditions such as extremely low heart rate, heart valve problems, and a heart attack can lead to low blood pressure. These conditions prevent the body from circulating enough blood, thus resulting in hypotension.
  • Pregnancy: Many women experience low blood pressure during pregnancy as a women’s circulatory system expands during this time.
Other Causes Include:
  • Nutritional deficiencies
  • Endocrine problems
  • Dehydration
  • Blood loss
  • Severe infection
  • Allergic reaction
What Is Low Blood Pressure?
From WebMD.com

Hypotension is the medical term for low blood pressure (less than 90/60).
  A blood pressure reading appears as two numbers. The first and higher of the two is a measure of systolic pressure, or the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats and fills them with blood. The second number measures diastolic pressure, or the pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between beats.
  Optimal blood pressure is less than 120/80 (systolic/diastolic). In healthy people, low blood pressure without any symptoms is not usually a concern and does not need to be treated. But low blood pressure can be a sign of an underlying problem -- especially in the elderly -- where it may cause inadequate blood flow to the heart, brain, and other vital organs.
Chronic low blood pressure with no symptoms is almost never serious. But health problems can occur when blood pressure drops suddenly and the brain is deprived of an adequate blood supply. This can lead to dizziness or lightheadedness. Sudden drops in blood pressure most commonly occur in someone who's rising from a lying down or sitting position to standing. This kind of low blood pressure is known as postural hypotension or orthostatic hypotension. Another type of low blood pressure can occur when someone stands for a long period of time. This is called neurally mediated hypotension.

Postural hypotension is considered a failure of the cardiovascular system or nervous system to react appropriately to sudden changes. Normally, when you stand up, some blood pools in your lower extremities. Uncorrected, this would cause your blood pressure to fall. But your body normally compensates by sending messages to your heart to beat faster and to your blood vessels to constrict. This offsets the drop in blood pressure. If this does not happen, or happens too slowly, postural hypotension results.
The risk of both low and high blood pressure normally increases with age due in part to normal changes during aging. In addition, blood flow to the heart muscle and the brain declines with age, often as a result of plaque buildup in blood vessels. An estimated 10% to 20% of people over age 65 have postural hypotension.


What Causes Low Blood Pressure?

The cause of low blood pressure isn't always clear. It may be associated with the following:


  • Pregnancy
  • Hormonal problems such as an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), diabetes, or low blood sugar(hypoglycemia)
  • Some over-the-counter medications
  • Some prescription medicines such as for high blood pressure,depression or Parkinson’s disease
  • Heart failure
  • Heart arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms)
  • Widening, or dilation, of the blood vessels
  • Heat exhaustion or heat stroke
  • Liver disease
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    What Causes a Sudden Drop in Blood Pressure?

    Sudden drops in blood pressure can be life-threatening. Causes of this type of hypotension include:
    Who Gets Postural Hypotension?

    Postural hypotension, which is low blood pressure when standing up suddenly, can happen to anyone for a variety of reasons, such as dehydration, lack of food, or being overly fatigued. It can also be influenced by genetic make-up, aging, medication, dietary and psychological factors, and acute triggers, such as infection and allergy.
      Postural hypotension occurs most frequently in people who are taking drugs to control high blood pressure (hypertension). It can also be related to pregnancy, strong emotions, hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis), or diabetes. The elderly are particularly affected, especially those who have high blood pressure or autonomic nervous system dysfunction.
      Hypotension after meals is a common cause of dizziness and falls after eating. This is most common after large meals containing a lot of carbohydrates. It’s believed to be caused by blood pooling into the vessels of the stomach and intestines.
      Several drugs are commonly associated with postural hypotension. These medications can be divided into two major categories:
    Certain diseases can also cause postural hypotension. 
    These include:
    How Do I Know if I Have Low Blood Pressure?

    Low blood pressure is not always a sign of a problem. But if you have symptoms of low blood pressure, your doctor can diagnose the condition and uncover the cause. Symptoms of dizziness and lightheadedness when you stand up from sitting or lying down -- with a decrease in your blood pressure -- may indicate a condition called postural hypotension. A wide range of underlying conditions may also cause your symptoms. It's important to identify the cause of low blood pressure so appropriate treatment can be given.

    The doctor will look at your medical history, age, specific symptoms, and the conditions under which the symptoms occurred. He or she will do a physical exam and may repeatedly check your blood pressure and pulse rate -- after you've been lying down for a few minutes, right after you stand up, and within a few minutes after you stand quietly.

    Other tests may be performed, such as an ECG (electrocardiogram) to measure heart rate and rhythm and an echocardiogram (an ultrasound test to visualize the heart). You may also have blood tests to look for anemia or problems with your blood sugar levels.

    More sophisticated home ECG monitoring (a Holter monitor or "event" monitor) may be necessary to check for heart problems that come and go.

    An exercise stress test or, less commonly, an electrophysiology test (EP test) may also be helpful.

    Some forms of postural hypotension may require a test called a "tilt table" test. This test evaluates the body's reaction to changes in position. The person lies on a table, is safely strapped in, and the table is raised to an upright position for up to an hour. Blood pressure, heart rate, and symptoms are recorded. Often, medications are given to help guide treatment.
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