What is low blood pressure?

Blood pressure is a measure of how hard blood pushes against the walls of your arteries as it moves through your body. Low blood pressure is also called hypotension. It means that your blood pressure is much lower than normal. Some people may have slightly low blood pressure without symptoms. But in many people, low blood pressure can make you feel dizzy or lightheaded. When your blood pressure is too low, your heart, brain, and other organs do not get enough blood.

Low blood pressure can be caused by many things, including heart problems and some medicines. Diabetes that is not under control can cause your blood pressure to drop. And so can a severe allergic reaction or infection. Another cause is dehydration, which is when your body loses too much fluid.

Treatment for low blood pressure depends on the cause.

Some people with low blood pressure don't have any symptoms. Symptoms to watch for include feeling dizzy or lightheaded. You may also feel sick to your stomach or more thirsty than usual.

Treatment depends on your symptoms and what causes your low blood pressure. You may be given fluid through an I.V. if you're dehydrated. The doctor may change or stop some medicines. And you might help prevent symptoms at home. For example, drinking more water, limiting alcohol, and getting up slowly may help with dizziness.

If you have low blood pressure, your doctor may suggest that you try some ways to prevent symptoms like dizziness. For example, your doctor might recommend that you:

• Stand up slowly.
• Add more salt to your diet.
• Drink more water.
• Drink little or no alcohol.
• Wear compression stockings.

Be sure to talk with your doctor before you add more salt to your diet.

If you feel dizzy or lightheaded, sit down or lie down for a few minutes. Or you can sit down and put your head between your knees. This will help your blood pressure go back to normal and help your symptoms go away.

If your doctor prescribes medicine to help prevent a low blood pressure problem, take it exactly as prescribed.

Often people learn that they have low blood pressure when their doctor checks it. To check for the causes of your low blood pressure, your doctor will ask about your past health, your symptoms, and the medicines you take. You will have a physical exam and maybe other tests.

• Be safe with medicines. Call your doctor if you think you are having a problem with your medicine. You will get more details on the specific medicines your doctor prescribes.
• If you feel dizzy or lightheaded, sit down or lie down for a few minutes. Or you can sit down and put your head between your knees. This will help your blood pressure go back to normal and help your symptoms go away.
• Follow your doctor's suggestions for ways to prevent symptoms like dizziness. These suggestions may include:
  • Get up slowly from bed or after sitting for a long time. If you are in bed, roll to your side and swing your legs over the edge of the bed and onto the floor. Push your body up to a sitting position. Wait for a while before you slowly stand up.
  • Add more salt to your diet, if your doctor recommends it.
  • Drink plenty of fluids. Choose water and other clear liquids. If you have kidney, heart, or liver disease and have to limit fluids, talk with your doctor before you increase the amount of fluids you drink.
  • Avoid or limit alcohol to 2 drinks a day for men and 1 drink a day for women. Alcohol may interfere with your medicine. In addition, alcohol can make your low blood pressure worse by causing your body to lose water.
  • Wear compression stockings to help improve blood flow.

Some causes of low blood pressure include:

• Getting up quickly after you sit or lie down. This can cause a quick drop in blood pressure called orthostatic hypotension.
• Standing for a long time.
• Not drinking enough fluids (dehydration).
• Medicines. Examples are high blood pressure medicine or other heart medicines.
• Health problems. Examples are thyroid disease, severe infection, and neuropathy.
• Trauma. Examples are major bleeding and bad burns.

Low blood pressure (hypotension) means that your blood pressure is lower than normal. In healthy adults, this may not cause problems. But blood pressure is considered too low when it causes symptoms or drops suddenly. When your blood pressure is too low, your heart, brain, and other organs may not get enough blood.