Low Blood Pressure or Hypotension

Low Blood Pressure or hypertension, as it is known in medical parlance, refers to thee fall in blood pressure below the normal.

It is a condition in which the action of the heart in forcing the blood through the arteries is weak. This is a direct outcome of a weakened and devitalised condition of the system.

The blood pressure is measured with an instrument called Sphygmomanometer in millimeters of mercury. The highest pressure reached during each heartbeat is called systolic pressure and the lowest between two beats is known as diastolic pressure.

The normal systolic pressure ranges between 100-140 and diastolic pressure ranges between 60-90.


This varies from person to person, according to the age, sex and emotional status. A person is said to suffer from low blood pressure if there is difference of 40 mm or more between the present blood pressure and his usual blood pressure. Thus for instance, if the usual reading is 160/90 and it comes down to 120/70 or less, it can be taken as low blood pressure.

Symptoms of Low Blood Pressure:

The patient with chronic low blood pressure may complain of lethargy, weakness, fatigue and dizziness. He may faint, especially if arterial pressure is lowered further when he assumes an erect position. Other symptoms of low blood pressure are darkness 5 before the eyes and cold sweating.


These symptoms are presumably due to a decrease in prefusion of the brain, heart, skeleton muscle and other organs.

Causes of Low Blood Pressure:

The most important cause of low blood pressure is faulty nutrition. It makes the tissues forming the walls of blood vessels to become over relaxed and oxygen and nutrients to the tissues.


Malnutrition can result from diet deficient in calories, proteins, vitamin C or almost anyone of the B Vitamins.

Sometimes, the blood pressure falls rapidly because of hemorrhage or loss of blood. Low blood pressure may also develop gradually because of slow bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract, or through the kidneys or bladder. Emotional problems are a far more frequent cause of low blood pressure. To a lesser degree, prolonged disappoint¬ment and frustration may result in a subnormal blood pressure. Sometimes in young women with no abnormal disease, blood pressure tends to be on the low side, say, 90/60 or less. Heredity also plays a role and low blood pressure runs in certain families. Their blood pressure continues to be low, irrespective of what they eat and how they live.

Low Blood Pressure Reasons

Blood is one of the important components of the human body. Blood flows around the body and is used for the transportation of various nutrients to different parts of the body. Blood is also used to remove waste products and toxins from parts of the body that wish to dispose of these products. Blood flows through the lungs to collect oxygen and release carbon dioxide. Blood also flows through the kidneys where it is filtered. The heat in the human body is maintained and transmitted through blood. Blood is also used to transport hormones and enzymes from the site of their production to the site where they are used.

The heart is the main pumping organ of the human body. It is the organ that provides power to move the fluid around the body. He heart beat is broken into two segments when one wishes to check the blood pressure of an individual. These are systolic and diastolic phases. These phases refer to the pumping and releasing actions of the heart. The blood pressure is therefore mentioned as two figures which refer to the pressure during the pump and the pressure while the pumping has stopped.

Normal blood pressure helps the body perform its tasks efficiently. When the blood pressure is elevated, it puts pressure on the walls of the blood vessels and can cause numerous different problems. When the pressure of the blood is depressed, the individual will likely suffer from low energy levels and may also suffer from diminished consciousness. When it comes to medical analysis of an individual, blood pressure measurements are always taken with the individual at rest. This is because the blood pressure will be elevated during periods of activity. Blood pressure is one of the basic and critical measurements used as a vital sign to define certain parameters of the basic health of an individual. The normal blood pressure of an individual is represented as 120/80 which is the systolic and diastolic value for blood pressure. Pressure below 90/60 is considered to be low blood pressure. High blood pressure is known as hypertension whereas low blood pressure is known as hypotension.

Low blood pressure is a condition that is often defined both by the blood pressure test values and by the actual symptoms that affect the patient. An individual is therefore diagnosed with low blood pressure only when the pressure is low and the low blood pressure symptoms are present. Low blood pressure ranges are defined as any value below 90/60 along with accompanying symptoms. Individuals with extremely low blood pressure will suffer from low blood pressure fainting because the pressure is not enough to transport sufficient blood required to maintain consciousness.

Some signs of low blood pressure include dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting and confused mental functioning. Heart attacks can occur due to low blood pressure because the heart muscles are not sufficiently fed. Low blood pressure can cause cramps and muscle pain for the same reason, that is, the muscles are not being fed properly due to the low flow rate of blood. Some toxins may be present in the body when there is low blood pressure. This is because the amount of blood being cleaned by the kidneys is reduced due to the reduced flow of blood to these organs. This can cause mild toxicity in the body.

There are many causes of low blood pressure. Some causes are based on current events while others may be associated with past history or medical conditions. When it comes to current events related to low blood pressure one must mention blood loss injuries. When an individual loses a significant amount of blood, the body will simply not have enough blood to pump around itself. This causes low blood pressure. An individual exposed to extreme cold will also suffer from low blood pressure. Dehydration causes low blood pressure as well. This is because there is insufficient fluid in the body which leads to reduced heart rate. Some individuals may suffer from low blood pressure because of a failing heart which is just unable to maintain the pressure required by the body. When there is severe inflammation in the body, the blood pressure may be low. This causes low blood pressure and high heart rate as the body struggles to supply blood to its various parts. Low blood pressure and high heart rate are also associated with a problem of the heart.

An individual suffering from low blood pressure should seek medical attention. Medical attention can ensure that the individual does not suffer from the long term effects of low blood pressure. An individual who goes long periods of time with low blood pressure will suffer from serious problems of toxicity, heart failure, brain damage and many other conditions. Low blood pressure should be treated at home initially by trying to properly hydrate and feed the individual. If there are signs of pain or discomfort, the patient should be taken to an emergency room immediately. In many cases, the causes for low blood pressure are related to lifestyle issues and, possibly, dietary issues. The individual can therefore modify these aspects of his or her life to help with the recovery from this condition. specific medical treatment of low blood pressure depends entirely on the judgment of the doctor and on the results of certain medical tests that are conducted on the patient to judge the underlying condition. As with many conditions, low blood pressure is usually not the cause of the problem, it is the symptom. Therefore, a thorough study of the underlying medical condition can help diagnose the problem and sort it out once and for all. General ageing of the muscles of the body and weakening of the blood vessels causes low blood pressure in elderly people. Blood loss causes low blood pressure after surgery. The increased pressure within the abdomen and chest causes low blood pressure during pregnancy.

Low blood pressure should not be taken lightly. It is a serious medical problem that requires attention immediately.