Low BP Symptoms & Care: A Guide to Managing Hypotension

Low BP Symptoms: Early Signs of Hypotension & Treatment Options

Blood pressure refers to the amount of force blood uses while travelling through the arteries. The normal blood pressure level ranges from 120/80 mm Hg. When the blood pressure reading falls below 90/60 mmHg, it is considered low pressure. While hypertension is more prevalent, hypotension can be under-recognized and symptomatic in vulnerable populations. According to a 2022 Statista report, approximately 18% of people experience either high or low blood pressure.

Do you feel lightheaded or dizzy when standing up suddenly? Do not ignore it if it occurs regularly! This might be a clear sign of low blood pressure. Hypotension, or low BP, occurs when the pressure of the blood in the brachial artery is much lower (90/60 mm Hg) than expected.

A person suffering from low BP suffers from symptoms like fainting and dizziness. To explore more about low BP symptoms, its causes, diagnosis and treatment, read this blog.

What are the low blood pressure symptoms?

Generally, low BP is asymptomatic. The blood pressure of a person fluctuates as per regular activities. However, it can also be a health condition in itself, or there might be other underlying health conditions that are responsible.

When the blood pressure drops suddenly, it has the following symptoms:

1. Fainting: Loss of consciousness temporarily.
2. Lightheadedness or dizziness: Not getting enough blood to the brain. As a result, the head feels light, and at the same time, the vision gets clouded.
3. Lack of focus: Reduced blood flow in the brain often leads to a lack of attention and confusion.
4. Fatigue: Lack of energy and feeling tired.
5. Nausea: Uneasiness in the stomach that makes a person feel like they are on the verge of vomiting.
6. Clammy skin: Sweaty, cold and wet skin, which brings a sticky sensation.
7. Shallow breathing: When the heart compensates for decreased blood flow, rapid breathing or tachypnea happens.

What are the Types of Low Blood Pressure?

There are several types of low blood pressure. These are as follows:

1. Absolute Hypotension: It is a common occurrence that happens when someone's resting blood pressure is 90/60 mm Hg. It can happen to anyone at any age. The symptoms of absolute hypotension include fainting and dizziness. In serious cases, it can lead to organ damage.
   For example, the 1st and 2nd trimesters of pregnancy often cause symptoms of low BP in females. It is considered normal and happens because of increased blood volume that supports foetal development and hormonal changes.
2. Orthostatic Hypotension: In orthostatic hypotension, a patient's blood pressure remains low for an extended period while standing up from a sitting position. Since it occurs while changing posture, it is also known as postural hypotension. Orthostatic hypotension is defined as a drop of ≥20 mm Hg systolic or ≥10 mm Hg diastolic within 3 minutes of standing.
3. Neurally Mediated Hypotension: Standing for a long time leads to neurally mediated hypotension. It occurs when there is a lack of communication between the brain and the heart. Younger people often experience this type of hypotension.
4. Postprandial Hypotension: Postprandial hypotension occurs within one or two hours after a meal when blood gets pooled in the intestines and stomach. Older people suffering from high blood pressure or neurological disorders often experience this.
5. Multiple System Atrophy with Orthostatic Hypotension: It is a rare form of low BP that occurs in a lying-down position. This condition involves the involuntary nervous system, which controls breathing and heart rate. Older people between the ages of 50 and 60 experience such conditions.
6. Severe Hypotension: Shocks or injuries can cause low BP. It happens because when an individual is in shock or experiences sudden injury, their organs do not get sufficient oxygen and function inadequately. This poses a serious concern and needs emergency attention from a healthcare professional.

How to Measure Low Blood Pressure?

Low BP is measured using a blood pressure cuff, and it involves two numbers: systolic (top number) and diastolic (bottom number). 'Systolic' refers to the pressure on the arteries with every heartbeat, and 'diastolic' refers to the amount of pressure in the arteries between heartbeats.

The low BP measure shows two numbers in millimetres of mercury. If the reading is 90/60 mm Hg or below, it is considered low blood pressure. If the reading shows 130/139 mm Hg, it is high blood pressure.

What are the Causes of Low BP Symptoms?

Hypotension, or low BP, can occur due to a bad diet or some serious underlying health issues. Here are some of the most common reasons:

1. Temporary Reasons for Low Blood Pressure

Temporary reasons are factors that do not linger on. In such cases, blood pressure drops but comes back to normal when the situation becomes favourable. The following are the temporary reasons that lead to low BP:

1. Fasting for an extended period
2. Dehydration or loss of water in the body
3. Being on bed rest for a long time
4. Pregnancy
5. Extreme stress
6. Excessive alcohol consumption
7. Temperature fluctuations, being in an environment that is too hot or too cold
    

2. Serious Factors Contributing to Low Blood Pressure

These are a series of reasons that have a lasting impact. People with these factors experience low BP issues throughout their lifetime. Factors such as:

1. Working in a standing position for an extended period
2. Heart issues that impact the force when the heart pushes blood into the body
3. Septic shocks that take place as a severe response to bacterial infections
4. Anaphylactic shock is caused by severe allergic reactions.
5. Excessive blood loss due to an accident or injury
6. Problems in the endocrine system that regulate hormones
7. Severe hypotension may reduce perfusion and cause organ damage, but DVT and stroke are more commonly associated with hypertension or immobility.

How to Diagnose Low BP Symptoms?

Diagnosing low blood pressure is simple. However, discovering the potential reasons why someone is experiencing symptoms of low BP is crucial. Healthcare providers recommend the following tests while diagnosing low BP:

1. Lab testing to evaluate levels of vitamins, iron, the presence of diabetes, pregnancy, and hormonal imbalance.
2. Diagnostic testing, such as a tilt table test and an electrocardiogram.
3. Imaging tests such as CT scans, x-rays, MRIs and echocardiograms.
    

How to Treat Low BP Symptoms?

Finding the reasons why a patient is experiencing low blood pressure is the first stage of treatment. The following are some of the ways to treat low blood pressure:

1. If someone has low blood pressure due to an injury, treating that injury and replacing the blood loss through blood transfusion could be helpful.
2. Using medications that make blood vessels constrict, which increases blood pressure.
3. Medications that help the kidneys store fluid and salt in the body can treat low blood pressure.
    

Final Words

Once the reasons behind low BP symptoms are clear, dealing with the condition becomes easier. Patients with absolute hypotension can treat this condition through lifestyle modifications. These include staying properly hydrated, keeping bricks below the head to elevate the head's position, eating smaller meals at frequent intervals and so on.