Low Blood Pressure: Types,Causes,Symptoms & Treatment
17-08-2017 | Posted By: Chhavi | 2785 View(s)
The pressure that is exerted by blood on the walls of blood vessels during contraction and relaxation of the heart is known as Blood Pressure. It is one of the important indicating signs that your body might be giving you. Blood Pressure is the responsiveness of your arteries toward the flow of blood in the body.
What is the Standard Blood Pressure?
Our heart circulates blood every second, in every beat. The pressure exerted on the walls of arteries during every heart beat is known as Systolic Pressure which is 120mm, or Hg Diastolic Pressure is when the heart rests in between two beats. The diastolic pressure is 80 mm, or Hg. The value of normal blood pressure is written as 120/80 mm or Hg. Any value lower than these is considered Low Blood Pressure and vice versa.
What is Low Blood Pressure?
Low Blood Pressure or more precisely known as Hypotension is the condition when the pressure of blood is abnormally low through the arteries. Having a low blood pressure is not necessarily a critical condition, but the effects that come with it can be. If we see, within certain limits having a low blood pressure is better unless some serious symptoms are present. Symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, vomiting, headaches, dehydration and unconsciousness occur when the blood pressure is low.
Low Blood Pressure leads to the inadequate flow of blood to the important organs of the body. This eventually leads to the insufficient supply of oxygen and nutrients. This can be a harmful situation for human beings as it can cause permanent harm to their bodies.
Types of Low Blood Pressure
Hypotension or Low Blood Pressure is of different kinds. It depends upon how the blood pressure drops.
1.Orthostatic- Drop in blood pressure that occurs when you get up after sitting or lying down for a long time. It can happen in all ages.
2.Postprandial- The drop in blood pressure that takes place suddenly after eating. Those who have Parkinson’s disease are more likely to suffer from this type of hypotension.
3.Severe- It is related to shock. Shocks happen when the body organs do not get the blood and oxygen for functioning. It is dangerous to life.
4.Neurally Mediated– This occurs when a person has been standing for a long time. This type of Hypotension is more prevalent in kids than in adults.
Causes of Low Blood Pressure
There are a lot of reasons which can result in Low Blood Pressure. Conditions that reduce the amount of blood pumped by the heart (cardiac output) and regular intake of medicines can be a reason for low arterial blood pressure. Here are the causes of Low Blood Pressure.
1.Dehydration: It is very common among people who suffer from prolonged nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or does regular exercise. A lot of water is lost from the body when a person does or suffer from any of these. It is even more harmful if the individual does not take adequate amounts of fluid. Other causes of dehydration include fever, heatstroke, excessive sweating, etc. Prolonged or severe dehydration can lead to shock, confusion, coma, kidney failure and even death.
2.Bleeding: Moderate or severe bleeding can result in the depletion of blood from an individual’s body. This leads to low blood pressure. Bleeding can be caused due to surgery, trauma, ulcers, tumours, etc. We often notice that some people faint if there is a bleeding in their body. They do so as a result of Low Blood Pressure. Sometimes, the bleeding can be so severe that it can lead to the instant death of a person.
3.Blood Volume: Lowered rate of blood flow throughout the blood vessels leads to Low Blood Pressure. The flexibility of blood vessels also is a determining factor of reduced blood pressure. When the blood flows through the vessels is less, but the arteries are open and flexible, it leads to lowered blood pressure.
4.Weak Heart Muscles: This can reduce the amount of blood that is pumped through the heart, and severe cases can cause heart failure. A single massive heart attack or many smaller ones can damage a significant portion of the heart. Also, taking medicines that are not heart-friendly or toxic can cause weakening of the heart muscles. Diseases of the valves of the heart such as aortic stenosis reduce the blood flow from the heart to the arteries.
5.Eating Disorders most particularly Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia can lower the blood pressure as well. They weaken the heart chambers and make the walls of the heart thin. With this, the pumping functions decline and blood pressure fall.
Symptoms of Low Blood Pressure
Having lowered blood pressure is considered safe. But if it is below normal for a prolonged period then you must take into account visiting a doctor. It is alright only until any symptoms with low arterial blood pressure appear. People with Hypotension may experience unpleasant symptoms in their body when the blood pressure drops below 90/60. Here are some most common symptoms of Hypotension or Low Blood Pressure.
Fatigue
Dizziness
Blurry Vision
Dehydration
Headaches
Nausea
Vomiting
Unconsciousness
Clammy Skin
These symptoms may vary among individuals. One person may feel ill while the other may not even feel anything other than being slightly uncomfortable.
Treatment of Lowered Blood Pressure
An individual who suffers from low arterial blood pressure can take care of himself at home itself. Below are some Home remedies for treating Low Blood Pressure.
1.Take the Mighty Salt
You have heard all your life that salt is not good for people suffering from heart diseases. Our take? Excess is bad, but our bodies require salt in moderate quantities. According to the WHO, our daily diet must contain one teaspoon of salt other than what we derive from nature. Salt works as an excellent energising ingredient in summers.
2.Drink Fluids
One must drink at least 2-3 litres of water every day. Besides water, you must incorporate juices, coconut water, aam panna, etc. in your daily routine diet. Dehydration is the common cause for lowered blood pressure rates.
3.Caffeine
Take the most loved beverage of all time, Coffee for caffeine. You can also go for tea. These drinks help increase the blood pressure. Make sure your drink is dark.
4.Eat in Small Portions
Sneaking healthy snacking is no crime, especially when you suffer from Low Blood Pressure. Take frequent meals, like 4-5 times a day. You can make your meal small but have to increase the number of meals you take. Eating frequently ensures that there is no sudden drop in the blood pressure.
5.Raisins
Raisins are an effective ancient Ayurvedic remedy for curing Hypotension. Just soak around 30 raisins overnight and eat them in the morning on an empty stomach. This will help in bringing up the blood pressure to an average level.
This was about Low Blood Pressure, its types, its causes, symptoms and home remedies for treating it. Low Blood Pressure is normal, but if it appears with symptoms, then you surely must take care of yourself or your loved one. It can be treated or brought to a reasonable level at home itself, but if the condition is severe, then you must consider visiting your doctor ASAP. Remember, A healthy life is a Happy Life.
