Here we will be knowing Lower Blood pressure Symptoms and Causes. What does it feel like to have Low Blood Pressure and what are the Causes of Low Blood Pressure? Stay tuned.
Table of Contents
What is Low Blood Pressure?
Low blood pressure means that pressure in your blood flow is lower. It is defined as the pressure reading of less than 90/60 mmHg.
Low blood pressure sometimes may be life-threatening but most of the time it passes without any symptoms or mild fainting
Lower Blood Pressure Symptoms
Blurry Vision
This is the common symptom of Low BP. The blurring of vision is caused by decreased blood flow to the light-sensing layer of the eye (Retina) giving faded blurry vision.
Fainting
This is also a common symptom of Low Blood pressure caused by decreased blood flow to the brain.
Low blood flow to the brain cause more problems such as Light Headedness, Dizziness, Trouble focusing, Confused, Blackouts, etc.
This also leads to overall Fatigue of the body.
Breathing Changes
There is Fast and Shallow breathing when you are having an attack of Hypotension (Low BP)
All these changes result in irritation, mood changes, and feeling of general weakness. You become Sluggish, Not in the mood to get up, more lethargic, and often sleepy.
These all were the Symptoms of Lower Blood pressure. Now Let’s Look for Causes of Lower blood pressure.
Lower Blood Pressure Causes
Blood pressure can get low even in normal persons but more commonly it is associated with a systemic disease so let’s look at all of these causes of lowering of blood pressure.
Ortho-Static Hypotension
It means low BP after standing. It often occurs in normal individuals without any underlying disease. This is the Sudden Lowering of blood pressure due to Standing upright from a lying or sitting position.
Sudden standing causes the blood to flow downwards and away from the brain causing a low blood supply to the brain for a few seconds.
People experience a Sudden black shadow in front of their eyes. Fainting may occur.
Low BP Due to Medications
More commonly than the disease there are some medications that are causing lower blood pressure. These medications include:
- Water Pills – (Diuretics)
- Calcium Channel Blockers – (Verapamil, Nifedipine)
- Beta-Blockers (Propranolol, Atenolol)
- Anti-Depressants
- Alcohol
Low Blood Volume
Due to blood loss following any Trauma or Surgery, there may not be enough blood to pump in the vessels with adequate pressure hence it automatically gets lowered.
Blood volume may also be decreased following Frequent Diarrhea, Vomiting, or even excessive sweating causing the body to dehydrate.
To Treat it all, Drink Plenty of Liquids Like ORS, Liquid Foods, and Fruits with high water content.
Heart conditions
When the heart is unable to pump efficiently, the pressure of the blood column decreases.
Kidney conditions
The kidney makes the hormone RENIN in response to low blood flow to the kidney. This Renin is ultimately responsible for constricting the blood vessels making their bore narrower. The blood pressure increases in the narrow-bore vessels.
Please note that the Lungs are also involved in this Renin Vessel Constriction mechanism therefore dysfunction at the level of the lungs may also lead to similar results.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy is the state of health in which there is an overwhelming fluctuation of hormones and other bodily chemicals rendering a pregnant female more prone to Blood Pressure Fluctuation.
Diabetes
Diabetes in an Insulin Resistant state of the body can also cause an increased risk of getting low BP.
This is so due to nervous system damage (Peripheral and Autonomous Neuropathy)
The nerve damage causes increased chances of Orthostatic Hypotension.
Also, in diabetes, there is frequent urination (Polyuria) that may cause dehydration and lower the BP by the above-stated mechanism.
Allergic and other Life-threatening diseases
In Severe Allergy, there is the release of vasoactive chemicals in tremendous amounts which can cause your vessels to excessively dilate, causing sluggish circulation and low BP.
This can be treated with a prompt Epi-Pen injection.
Other conditions may be as follows
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Heart Attacks
- Heart-Valve diseases
- Severe infections
- Shock (not an electric one)
- Parkinson’s Disease
Please do note that these entities are rare causes of low blood pressure in the practical world.
