What Is Considered Low Blood Pressure?

Low blood pressure, also called hypotension, is classified when the blood pressure of a person is below average or a typically healthy range. Hypotension is diagnosed via symptoms, rather than a specific score for blood pressure. Many people can have extremely low numbers in their blood pressure score with no problematic symptoms, so hypotension must be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

Blood pressure is the pressure of the circulating blood against the walls of the blood vessels, and blood pressure readings are consisted of systolic and diastolic pressure. The systolic score is a higher number, because blood pressure is at its highest when the heart beats. Between beats, the heart is resting and this results in the diastolic number, which is lower.

Normal blood pressure is considered to be a reading of 120/80, with 120 being the systolic score and 80 being the diastolic score. Normal adults have a systolic score of between 90 and 120, and a diastolic score between 60 and 80. Low blood pressure is typically not considered a threat. It can be seen as a blessing as blood pressure tends to increase as one ages.

Symptoms

Symptoms of hypotension include blurry vision, confusion, dizziness, fainting, light-headedness, sleepiness and weakness. If one’s blood pressure is below 120/80 and these symptoms are experienced, medical attention should be sought so that the problem can be dealt with.

Medical problems and injuries can result from hypotension. Severe hypotension is caused by a medical emergency or loss of blood and is called shock. If someone is experiencing shock, they’re typically given antibiotics and receive blood via an IV unit.

If you or someone you’re with feels a drop in blood pressure, always immediately sit or lay down with the feet raised above the level of the heart. Resting like this and slowly returning to a sitting or standing position can help one feel relief.

However, if black or dark red stools, dizziness, fainting, chest pain, a high fever or shortness of breath accompany these feelings it is advisable to seek immediate medical attention. Also be sure to call a doctor if any of the following symptoms occur:

• urinary symptoms
• cough with phlegm or mucus
• diarrhea
• vomiting
• an inability to eat and drink

Someone with hypotension can also feel faint or dizzy and then fall with resulting injuries.

Treatment

For those who have low blood pressure for other reasons, doctors may halt prescriptions that affect blood pressure. Simple lifestyle changes can alleviate the symptoms of low blood pressure, mainly avoiding standing for long periods of time, drinking plenty of water and making sure there is adequate sodium intake in one’s diet.

Sometimes Fludrocortisone is prescribed. Fludrocortisone is a medication intended to balance levels of certain hormones in the body. Doctors use it to aid patients with abnormally low blood pressure because it causes the patient to retain water and sodium and it elevates blood pressure.

Causes

A sudden drop in blood pressure can be caused by standing up too quickly after resting for a long period of time or after eating. However, it is occasionally artificially induced by alcohol, antidepressants, medications intended to relieve anxiety, and other medications such as those for heart disease, post-surgical prescriptions and painkillers.

Low blood pressure is also a symptom of very grave, mortal allergic reactions, heart attack and heart failure, dehydration and diabetes. When a patient sees a doctor with concerns about low blood pressure, it is typical for many tests to be conducted in order to rule out a greater health concern that could be causing this symptom.