Low Blood Pressure (Hypotension)

When speaking about blood pressure the majority of people first thinks on high blood pressure and the health risk it represents. However, there are also people who suffer from low blood pressure also known as hypotension which is characterized by abnormally low values of blood pressure. Although lower values of blood pressure are often considered beneficial for health too low blood pressure also represents serious health risks. Besides that hypotension is not so rare as it is widely believed.

One has too low blood pressure or hypotension if the blood pressure values are lower than 90 mmHg for systolic pressure and lower than 60 for diastolic pressure. People with hypotension most frequently complain over headaches, dizziness, weakness, tiredness for no reason, sleepiness, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, cold hands and feet, and sudden sweating. Some also experience vision disorders and even fainting what might result injuries because of falls and is particularly dangerous for older people and pregnant women. Hypotension can also result cardiogenic shock which can lead to cardiac arrest, a cessation of normal blood circulation which can result brain damage and sometimes even death.

Causes of hypotension are often unknown. Low blood pressure can be caused by certain diseases, excessive loss of blood (from heavy bleeding) or fluids (diarrhea, vomiting) and reduced blood volume (known as hypovolemia) but also by some illnesses and diseases, and medications. Low blood pressure can be chronic condition without known causes (essential hypotension) but most frequently hypotension is acute (secondary hypotension) and is characterized by sudden drop of blood pressure usually after changing the body position such as standing up from a seated or lying position what is known as orthostatic hypotension. In some people blood pressure drops after eating a substantial meal what is known as postprandial hypotension.

Low blood pressure requires treatment just like high blood pressure. Hypotension results reduced blood flow to the organs including brain, heart and kidneys what can in worst case result death.