HYPOTENSION

 What is low blood pressure?

Low blood pressure (hypotension) occurs when blood pressure drops below the normal range. Doctors generally define low blood pressure as 90/60 mm Hg or below, commonly said as “90 over 60” Usually, doctors only treat hypotension if it is severe enough to cause symptoms.

Low blood pressure can be temporary, or it can be a chronic (long-lasting) condition. The main types of hypotension are:

• Orthostatic hypotension: People with orthostatic hypotension (sometimes called postural hypotension) feel faint or lightheaded when they stand up or change position suddenly.
• Postprandial hypotension: This condition causes people to feel lightheaded or dizzy after eating a meal because their blood pressure drops suddenly.
• Neurally mediated hypotension: People with this disorder feel faint, dizzy, and nauseous after exercising or standing for a long time.

What causes low blood pressure?

Low blood pressure is often a sign of another medical condition. Hypotension has a variety of causes. They include:

• Dehydration.
• Heart disease or other heart problems, such as fast heart rate (tachycardia) or very slow heart rate (bradycardia).
• Certain medications, such as those for depression, Parkinson’s disease, erectile dysfunction.
• Pregnancy.
• Intense emotions like fear or pain.
• Blood loss or blood infection.
• Extreme changes in body temperature.

What are the Symptoms of low blood pressure?

People with hypotension may experience symptoms when their blood pressure drops below 90/60. Symptoms of hypotension can include:

• fatigue
• light-headedness
• dizziness
• nausea
• clammy skin
• depression
• loss of consciousness
• blurry vision

Treatment: 

Your treatment will depend on the underlying causes of your hypotension. Treatment could include medications for heart disease, diabetic, and infection. Drink plenty of water to avoid hypotension due to dehydration, especially if you are vomiting or have diarrhoea.