Low Blood Pressure (Hypotension): Causes, Symptoms & Cure

Blood pressure is the pressure of the blood against the walls of the arteries. Blood pressure results from two forces. The heart creates one force as it pumps blood into the arteries and through the circulatory system. The other is the force of the arteries as they resist the blood flow. The higher, systolic number represents the pressure while the heart contracts to pump blood to the body. The lower, diastolic number represents the pressure when the heart relaxes between beats.

What is Low Blood Pressure?

Low blood pressure is also known as hypotension. For millions of people who suffer from hypertension (high blood pressure) hypotension may seem great. If symptoms are mild, hypotension usually requires no treatment. However, it can cause serious heart disorders, fainting and also lead to neurological and endocrine disorders. If hypotension is severe key organs can become deprived of oxygen and nutrients and the body can go into shock, a life-threatening condition.

What are the causes of Hypotension?

Causes of Low Blood Pressure are:

• Adverse effect of certain drugs, including diuretics, anesthetics, nitrates, calcium blockers, certain types of antidepressant drugs and drugs for the treatment of high blood pressure.
• Dehydration (Heavy sweating, loss of blood, severe diarrhoea)
• Vasovagal attack (Fainting).
• Suddenly standing from lying or sitting position (postural, also known as orthostatic hypotension).
• Shock due to internal bleeding, severe infection or heart failure, heart attack or an irregular heartbeat.
• Anaphylaxis (a severe allergic response).
• Diabetic neuropathy or peripheral neuropathies.
• It can also be related to pregnancy.

What are the Symptoms of Hypotension?

Symptoms of hypotension may include: 

• Tiredness
• General weakness
• Light-headedness and fainting
• Blurred vision
• Dizziness
• Palpitations
• Confusion
• Nausea
• Temporary loss of consciousness.

What can I do about it?

Depending on the reason for your low blood pressure, you may be able to take certain steps to help reduce or even prevent symptoms. Some suggestions include:

• Drink water: Drink more water, less alcohol. Alcohol is dehydrating and can lower blood pressure, even if you drink in moderation. Water, on the other hand, combats dehydration and increases blood volume.

• Follow a healthy diet: Get all the nutrients you need for good health by focusing on a variety of foods, including whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean chicken and fish.

• Eat small, low-carb meals: To help prevent blood pressure from dropping sharply after meals, eat small portions several times a day and limit high-carbohydrate foods such as potatoes, rice, pasta and bread. Drinking caffeinated coffee or tea with meals may temporarily raise blood pressure, in some cases by as much as 3 to 14 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). But because caffeine can cause other problems, check with your doctor before increasing your caffeine intake.

• Have Beetroot (chukandar): The juice of raw beetroot is one of the most effective home remedies for low blood pressure. You should drink a cup of this juice twice daily for treating this condition. Considerable improvement will be noticeable within a week.

• Increase salt intake: People who are diagnosed with hypotension are advised to increase the intake of salt in their food. However, as too much of salt is not good for the heart, it should not exceed certain limit.

• Go slowly when changing body positions: You may be able to reduce the dizziness and lightheadedness that occur with low blood pressure on standing by taking it easy when you move from a prone to a standing position. Before getting out of bed in the morning, breathe deeply for a few minutes and then slowly sit up before standing. Sleeping with the head of your bed slightly elevated also can help fight the effects of gravity. If you begin to get symptoms while standing, cross your thighs in a scissors fashion and squeeze, or put one foot on a ledge or chair and lean as far forward as possible. These maneuvers encourage blood to flow from your legs to your heart.

• Epsom Salt Bath: Hot Epsom salt bath is one of the simplest remedy for low blood pressure. An Epsom salt bath is prepared by dissolving 1 to 1.5 kg of commercial Epsom Salt in an ordinary bath of hot water. This bath should be taken just before retiring to bed, and care should be exercised not to catch a chill afterwards.

Low blood pressure is not always a reason to be concerned but it can sometimes be a marker for underlying health related problems.

Stay well!