Low Blood Pressure - Causes, Symptoms and Preventive Measures

The blood pressure less than 130 (systolic)/85 (diastolic) mmHg (according to American Heart Association) is normal blood pressure in adults. On an average it may be 120/80 mmHg. But when the pressure decreases than the normal it is explained as a low blood pressure. Low blood pressure, medically known as ‘Hypotension’ is generally considered as systolic blood pressure of 90 mmHg or less in adults. Blood pressure varies, depending on
factors such as age, race, sex and environment. On rare occasions, individuals may have medical problems that cause low blood pressure.

Causes

There are different factors that cause low blood pressure; some of them are:

•       Lack of balanced and nutritive diet.
•       Dehydration and abnormal decrease in body weight.
•       Fatigue for a longer duration.
•       Over exertion and physical work.
•       Excessive bleeding due to wound and other causes.
•       Heredity and racial factors.    
•       Combination with Addison’s disease (pernicious anemia) and alcoholism.
•       Emotional stress and hormonal factor.
•       Medication for high blood pressure.
•       Environment or psychological dysfunction.

Signs and Symptoms

Several studies have suggested that low blood pressure may be associated with nonspecific symptoms, such as:

• Feeling or weakness and dizziness.
• Decrease in diastolic and systolic pressure.
• Headache referred to the back of the head or neck.
• Tiredness (fatigue) and fainting.
• Swaying.
• Focal cerebral ischemia (low blood flow).
• Communicating difficulties.
• Tunnel vision.
• Uncontrolled body balance.
• Emotional instability.

Prevention and control

Low blood pressure is a begin condition and is often attributed to psychological problems. So, the best ways of preventive measures should be:

• Making healthy lifestyle.
• Control of dehydration.
• Changing the timing of meals.
• Proper treatment of Addison’s disease.
• Control on alcohol consumption.
• Proper rest and sleep and physical work and exercise.
• Proper balanced diet.
• Maintenance of healthy recreation.
• Regular health check-up.

Always stay safe and free of diseases!!