What is Low Blood Pressure and its treatment

Hypo-tension is the medical term for low blood pressure (less than 90/60). A blood pressure reading appears as two numbers. The first and higher of the

two is a measure of systolic pressure or the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats and fills them with blood. The second number measures diastolic pressure or the pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between beats. Optimal blood pressure is less than 120/80 (systolic/diastolic). In healthy people, low blood pressure without any symptoms is not usually a concern and does not need to be treated. But low blood pressure can be a sign of an underlying problem especially in the elderly where it may cause inadequate blood flow to the heart, brain, and other vital organs. Chronic low blood pressure with no symptoms is almost never serious. But health problems can occur when blood pressure drops suddenly and the brain is deprived of an adequate blood supply. This can lead to dizziness or light headed-ness. Sudden drops in blood pressure most commonly occur in someone who's rising from a lying down or sitting position to standing. This kind of low blood pressure is known as postural hypo-tension or orthostatic hypo-tension. Another type of low blood pressure can occur when someone stands for a long period of time. This is called neutrally mediated hypo-tension.

Postural hypo-tension is considered a failure of the cardiovascular system or nervous system to react appropriately to sudden changes. Normally, when you stand up, some blood pools in your lower extremities. Uncorrected, this would cause your blood pressure to fall. But your body normally compensates by sending messages to your heart to beat faster and to your blood vessels to constrict. This offsets the drop in blood pressure. If does not happen or happens too slowly, postural hypo-tension results. The risk of both low and high blood pressure normally increases with age due in part to normal changes during aging. In addition, blood flow to the heart muscle and the brain declines with age, often as a result of plaque buildup in blood vessels. An estimated 10% to 20% of people over age 65 have postural hypo-tension.

Treatments for Low Blood Pressure

For many people, chronic low blood pressure can be effectively treated with diet and lifestyle changes. Depending on the cause of your symptoms, your doctor may tell you to increase your blood pressure by making these simple

changes, Eat a diet higher in salt, Drink lots of nonalcoholic fluids, Limit alcoholic beverages, Drink more fluids during hot weather and while sick with a viral illness, such as a cold or the flu, Have your doctor evaluate your prescription and over-the-counter medications to see if any of them are causing your symptoms, Get regular exercise to promote blood flow, Be careful when rising from lying down or sitting. To help improve circulation, pump your feet and ankles a few times before standing up. Then proceed slowly. When getting out of bed, sit upright on the edge of the bed for a few minutes before standing, Elevate the head of your bed at night by placing bricks or blocks under the head of bed, Avoid heavy lifting, Avoid straining while on the toilet.

Avoid prolonged exposure to hot water, such as hot showers and spas. If you get dizzy, sit down. It may be helpful to keep a chair or stool in the shower in case you need to sit; to help prevent injury, use a nonslip chair or stool designed for use in showers and bath tubs, To avoid problems with low blood pressure and lessen episodes of dizziness after meals, try eating smaller, more frequent meals. Cut back on carbohydrates. Rest after eating, avoid taking drugs to lower blood pressure before meals, if needed, and use elastic support (compression) stockings that cover the calf and thigh. These may help restrict blood flow to the legs, thus keeping more blood in the upper body.