Experiencing a headache, dizziness, weakness or a blurry vision can mean a lot of things. But if you have these symptoms all at one go, it could be a tell-tale sign of hypotension, also known as low blood pressure. Several factors can lead to a drop in your blood pressure levels and treatment could vary depending on the causes. Speaking with the OnlyMyHealth editorial team, Dr Pallab Kumar Bose, Consultant - Cardiology, Fortis Hospital, Anandapur, provides important insights on what the condition is, what causes it and symptoms to watch out for.
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What Is Hypotension?
Blood pressure can be measured on the basis of systolic and diastolic pressure. The systolic measurement shows how much pressure your blood is putting on the artery walls when the heart beats, while the diastolic measurement depicts the amount of pressure put on the artery walls when the heart is resting between beats. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), an ideal blood pressure is usually lower than 120/80 mm Hg.
While high blood pressure or hypertension is defined as blood pressure above 140/90, Dr Bose says, “Hypotension is a decrease in blood pressure below accepted low values. Pressures less than 90/60 (systolic/diastolic) are recognized as hypotensive or low.”
According to the doctor, hypotension is a relatively benign condition that is underrated mainly because it is typically asymptomatic. It only becomes a concern once pumping pressure is not sufficient to provide oxygenated blood to key organs.
Symptoms Of Low Blood Pressure
While low blood pressure can be asymptomatic or show no symptoms, when it does, it may look like the following:
- Blurry vision
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Fainting (syncope)
- Light-headedness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sleepiness
- Weakness
Understanding The Causes And Ways To Recover
Several factors can lead to low blood pressure. These include:
- Emotional stress
- Fear, insecurity or pain
- Dehydration, which reduces blood volume
- Body's reaction to heat
Blood pressure is not static and varies throughout the day, depending on one's body position, diet, drinks, physical condition, breathing, medications, stress and also the time of the day. According to the Mayo Clinic, blood pressure is generally lowest at night and starts to spike when a person wakes up.
Depending on the cause of low blood pressure, your healthcare provider may recommend treatment. Usually, a benign or non-threatening hypotension doesn’t require any treatment. But one may have to drink more fluids, prevent dehydration, take medicines to raise blood pressure, or adjust medicines that cause low blood pressure.
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Bottomline
While low blood pressure can be treated with easy remedies, such as drinking water, resting, or taking necessary medications prescribed by a doctor, it should not be overlooked in the long run. Minor dizziness or headaches after spending too much time in the sun may not be a source of concern, however, if you experience confusion, shortness of breath or have a weak or rapid pulse, contact your doctor immediately. A sudden drop in blood pressure can be dangerous. With symptoms, such as severe and uncontrolled bleeding, infections or allergic reactions, can be fatal. It is recommended to consult your nearest healthcare professional.
