Low Blood Pressure (Hypotension) treatment

Description

Hypotension, also known as low blood pressure, is a condition in which the blood pressure during and after each heart beat is too low. Blood pressure measures the force of blood pumping inside arterial walls, and normal blood pressure falls between 90/60 mmHg and 120/80 mmHg. The top number is the systolic pressure (when blood vessels contract) and the bottom number is diastole pressure (resting heartbeat). When arteries dilate and there is not enough blood flow, it results in a decrease of pressure. The 3 different types of hypotension are: (1) Orthostatic hypotension - which occurs right after standing up from a sitting or lying down position (2) Neurally Mediated Hypotension (NMH) - resulting from a miscommunication between the brain and heart (3) Shock - severe drop in blood pressure brought on by a sudden drop in blood flow. Shock is an emergency condition where blood pressure cannot return to normal on its own. View more...

Causes

Two common causes of orthostatic hypotension are dehydration and old age. Other causes include anemia, severe infections, disorders of the central nervous system, pulmonary embolism, and certain medicines used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension), such as diuretics. Neurally mediated hypotension occurs after standing for a long period of time. Blood begins to pool in the legs, so the brain tells the heart that blood pressure is too high, and in turn blood pressure is decreased even more. Septic shock results from severe infections entering the bloodstream; hypovolemic shock occurs as a result of a major loss in body fluids, and cardiogenic shock is caused by a drastic decrease in the body's ability to pump blood (i.e. heart attack, pulmonary embolism, arrhythmia). View more...

Prevention

Avoiding alcohol, avoiding standing for a long time (if you have NMH), drinking plenty of fluids, getting up slowly after sitting or lying down, or using compression stockings to increase blood pressure in the legs.

Common Symptoms

If someone suffers from hypotension, their heart, lungs, brain, and other organs are not receiving an adequate amount of blood flow and oxygen. Common symptoms include dizziness, feeling light headed, blurry vision, confusion, weakness, nausea, and chest pain. A person with severe hypotension as a result of shock brought upon by heart failure or major blood loss will exhibit cold, clammy skin that is often blue or pale in color, weak and rapid pulses, and rapid, shallow breathing. Vasovagal syncope is brought upon by a severe drop in blood pressure and is the most common cause of fainting. View more...

Rare Symptoms

Less common symptoms are described as "an electric shock running through the body," or even "burning in one extremity." Other rare symptoms include constipation, diarrhea, myofascial pain, noise and light sensitivity, and weight loss and gain. Since blood flows to every minute part of the body, hypotension can affect literally any part of the body. Thus, the symptoms are innumerable and it is difficult to pinpoint exactly what rare symptoms of hypotension a person may exhibit. View more...

Traditional Treatment

Treatment for hypotension is determined by the cause of the low blood pressure. Low blood pressure without signs or symptoms is usually not unhealthy, and the body can usually correct itself. Treatment for those suffering from orthostatic hypotension is to increase fluid and electrolyte intake with IVs or to take medications that increase blood pressure. Your doctor can adjust your prescriptions if you are taking medications that cause NMH. Ibuprofen or indomethacin are helpful in treating postprandial hypotension (a drop in blood pressure after eating a meal). Vasovagal syncope can be treated with beta blockers, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or fludrocortisone to prevent dehydration. View more...

Alternative Treatment

Herbs such as bayberry, ginger, hawthorn berry, ginseng, capsicum, mate, and vervain; Other alternative treatments include yoga therapy, acupressure, and healing through reflexology.

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A catheter based procedure that disrupts nerves around the kidneys to dramatically reduce high blood pressure is being tested in Australia. Additionally, herbal therapies are being studied including Rauwolfia, Stephania, Crataegus, and Panax.