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THE
SYMPTOMS OF LOW BLOOD PRESSURE
It is widely accepted that high blood pressure is
a major health problem and is associated with medical complications and greater risk of
death from heart attack and stroke. Clinical studies have shown that controlling high
blood pressure can lead to better survival. There have been reports that long-standing (or
chronic) low blood pressure (or hypotension) may also be associated with
symptoms and/or impaired quality of life. However, there is still an ongoing controversy
between the Anglo-Saxon and German medical communities over whether or not chronic low
blood pressure represents a disorder or a disease.
Chronic low blood pressure has been reported in 0.3-4% of the population, especially in the young. Individuals who, on repeated occasions,
have blood pressure levels below 100/60 may sometimes develop non-specific symptoms of
tiredness, sleep disturbances, giddiness, black-outs, fainting, anxiety or depression, or
sweating, and may become more conscious of their heartbeats. This is known as "constitutional
hypotension" in the German medical literature, but the diagnosis is generally not
well-accepted by the Anglo-Saxon medical practitioners..
Similar symptoms are also commonly seen in patients with high blood pressure.
Dramatic clinical symptoms such as fainting or loss of consciousness can occur with sudden drop in blood pressure, after eating,
or after suddenly standing up. A recent
study of 9,008 British individuals with self-reported symptoms of low blood pressure such
as tiredness, dizziness, headache and palpitation suggested that there may be an
association between fatigue and low systolic blood pressure (the upper number in a blood
pressure reading). When 10,314 males and females aged 35-55 in London were studied,
investigators found a relationship between low blood pressure and psychological
dysfunction.
There are different reasons why a person can have
low blood pressure. The condition can be due to loss of lack of blood (anemia); low cardiac output (when not enough blood is being
pumped out by the heart) due to heart failure or heart attack, drugs; alcohol; or
diabetes. A drop in blood
pressure after sudden changes in position may be due to a disturbance in the nervous
system. These potentially correctable conditions need to be ruled out when a person sees
the doctor due to symptoms related to low blood pressure. One should determine if the
patient is using drugs that cause low blood pressure, such as nitrates, antidepressants,
anti-Parkinson's disease drugs, and drugs that are used to control high blood pressure.
Because a number of psychological factors may also underlie low blood pressure (of
no known cause), patients may benefit from psychological support. Although many of these
patients dislike salt, they need to be repeatedly encouraged to eat more salt. Compressive
stockings are also recommended because higher salt intake often leads to fluid
accumulation in the legs of these patients The symptoms of low blood pressure can be
reduced in some patients by tiptoe or isometric exercise. Patients should be advised to get up out of bed carefully or slowly in the
morning. If symptom relief is still not sufficient, drugs such as dihydroergotamine,
etilefrine, or amezinium) can be added to the regimen. If there are no symptoms or signs related to the low
blood pressure, no treatment is given. Notwithstanding the presence of symptoms that may disturb normal daily life, the prognosis or the long-term effect of low blood pressure is still not as bad as that of high blood pressure. [De Buyzere M et al. Chronic Blood Pressure: A Review. Cardiovas-cular Drugs and Therapy (1998); vol. 12, pp. 29-35]. |
NANAY Inc. is supported by Florida Older Americans Act, Alliance for Aging for Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties, Health Foundation of South Florida, State of Florida Department of Health, Florida Department of Transportation, Miami-Dade Alliance for Human Services, Dept of Health and Human Services, Miami Dade County Department of Health, Miami-Dade County Office of Community and Economic Development, North Miami CDBG, Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO), National Asian Women's Health Organization (NAWHO) and United Way (Miami-Dade Reg. # 161126)
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Individuals with low blood pressure may
sometimes develop non-