Manifestations of low blood pressure

Written by Li Hai Wen
Cardiology
Updated on December 06, 2024
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Low blood pressure refers to a phenomenon where the systolic blood pressure is below 90mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure is below 60mmHg. After developing low blood pressure, symptoms such as dizziness, palpitations, fatigue, and cold sweats often occur. If you have low blood pressure, it is essential to visit a hospital for proper examinations, such as a blood test to check for anemia. Conducting an echocardiography or an electrocardiogram can help determine if any heart diseases are causing the low blood pressure.

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What causes low blood pressure?

There are many causes of low blood pressure. A significant portion of chronic hypotension is due to physical constitution, with some patients who are generally frail having consistently low blood pressure but no symptoms. This type is quite common. Secondly, postural hypotension is also fairly common, often seen in elderly people or those taking antihypertensive medications, such as receptor blockers. These patients may experience transient dizziness and transient low blood pressure when getting up, known as postural hypotension. Moreover, the more common type is acute, sustained low blood pressure, which includes various causes of shock, myocardial infarction, cardiac tamponade, or acute blood loss, which can be life-threatening conditions requiring urgent treatment.

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What blood pressure is considered low blood pressure?

Systolic pressure less than 90 mmHg and diastolic pressure less than 60 mmHg indicate low blood pressure. The normal blood pressure range for adult males and females of any age is a systolic pressure between 90 to 139 mmHg and/or diastolic pressure between 60 to 89 mmHg. High blood pressure is defined as having a systolic pressure of 140 mmHg or higher and/or a diastolic pressure of 90 mmHg or higher. Arterial blood pressure varies among individuals, as well as by age and gender, with a general trend of increasing pressure as age advances, and the increase in systolic pressure is more pronounced than that in diastolic pressure. Before menopause, women tend to have slightly lower blood pressure than men of the same age, but after menopause, their blood pressure generally aligns with or even slightly exceeds that of their male counterparts.

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Rescue of hypotensive shock

Low blood pressure is an important clinical symptom and diagnostic indicator of shock. Regardless of what causes the shock, the presence of low blood pressure, along with cold limbs, cold sweat, reduced urine output, and an indifferent expression, indicates insufficient peripheral vascular perfusion. Prolonged insufficient perfusion can lead to damage to vital organs. Therefore, timely emergency treatment is essential to elevate blood pressure and save the patient's life. The initial steps include administering oxygen to ensure the oxygenation of vital organs, replenishing blood volume, using vasopressors, and providing timely emergency treatment to save the patient's life.

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How to remedy low blood pressure?

Long-term low blood pressure can cause significant harm to the body, leading to ischemia and hypoxia in vital organs. Therefore, for patients with chronic low blood pressure, in addition to effective drug treatment, nutritional supplementation is also necessary. Consuming high-quality protein foods, especially animal meats, which are rich in protein, not only provides high-quality protein for the body but also enhances the immune system and improves heart contractile function, helping to replenish water energy. Additionally, the adjustment with some traditional Chinese medicines can also be beneficial, consuming more herbs that nourish the heart muscle and boost qi and blood, achieving different effects.

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How to treat low blood pressure?

How to treat low blood pressure depends on the extent of the decrease in blood pressure and the causes of low blood pressure. If the blood pressure is not too low and there are no obvious clinical symptoms, generally, there is no need for pharmacological treatment. What is needed is lifestyle adjustments, consuming high-nutrient foods, proper exercise, increasing the vitality of the heart and the elasticity of the blood vessels, and drinking more broth. If it is caused by severe illness leading to shock, immediate effective medication treatment and rescue are required, starting with the replenishment of blood volume, improving microcirculation, and using vasopressors to raise the blood pressure to a safe range, to ensure the blood supply to the heart, brain, and kidneys. (Note: Doctor’s answers are for reference only. Please follow the guidance of a professional physician for medication use, and do not self-medicate blindly.)