What causes low blood pressure?

Written by Zeng Wei Jie
Cardiology
Updated on September 17, 2024
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There are many causes of low blood pressure. A significant portion of chronic hypotension is due to physical constitution, with some patients who are generally frail having consistently low blood pressure but no symptoms. This type is quite common. Secondly, postural hypotension is also fairly common, often seen in elderly people or those taking antihypertensive medications, such as receptor blockers. These patients may experience transient dizziness and transient low blood pressure when getting up, known as postural hypotension. Moreover, the more common type is acute, sustained low blood pressure, which includes various causes of shock, myocardial infarction, cardiac tamponade, or acute blood loss, which can be life-threatening conditions requiring urgent treatment.

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Written by Cai Li E
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What blood pressure is considered low blood pressure?

Systolic blood pressure lower than 90 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure lower than 60 mmHg are considered hypotension. Hypotension is divided into physiological hypotension and pathological hypotension. Physiological hypotension generally has no symptoms and does not require special treatment. Patients with pathological hypotension often experience symptoms such as dizziness, fainting, blurred vision, nausea, etc., and need to be treated according to the cause. Hypotension patients often have postural hypotension and postprandial hypotension. The normal blood pressure range for adult males and females of any age is systolic pressure between 90 to 139 mmHg and/or diastolic pressure between 60 to 89 mmHg.

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Manifestations of low blood pressure

Low blood pressure refers to a phenomenon where the systolic blood pressure is below 90mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure is below 60mmHg. After developing low blood pressure, symptoms such as dizziness, palpitations, fatigue, and cold sweats often occur. If you have low blood pressure, it is essential to visit a hospital for proper examinations, such as a blood test to check for anemia. Conducting an echocardiography or an electrocardiogram can help determine if any heart diseases are causing the low blood pressure.

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Is low blood pressure serious?

Low blood pressure is a common and frequently occurring disease clinically. It often occurs in physically weak individuals, middle-aged and elderly people, or women during their physiological period, as well as people who do not pay attention to nutritional intake while dieting. It can also be seen in some diseases that cause low blood pressure. Low blood pressure caused by reasons such as diet and age is generally not too serious and can be managed by adjusting daily routines and dietary structures. However, low blood pressure caused by blood loss, allergies, heart failure, trauma, and other factors is a manifestation of shock and is very serious. In severe cases, it can be life-threatening and requires immediate emergency treatment.

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How to deal with low blood pressure?

Low blood pressure in medicine refers to a systolic pressure below 90mmHg and a diastolic pressure below 60mmHg. So, what should one do after being diagnosed with low blood pressure? First, a formal examination is necessary, such as a blood test, to see if anemia might be causing the low blood pressure. Additionally, carrying out a cardiac ultrasound and an electrocardiogram (ECG) to check for potential heart diseases is advisable. Second, if anemia, heart diseases, or other conditions are ruled out as causes of the low blood pressure, appropriate medication can be taken to raise the blood pressure. For instance, certain traditional Chinese medicines, ginseng, Codonopsis pilosula, Glehnia littoralis, and Pseudostellaria heterophylla, can be helpful. One can take Chinese herbal decoctions under the guidance of a qualified Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor to help increase blood pressure. (Specific medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor; do not self-medicate.)

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How to regulate low blood pressure

How to adjust for low blood pressure depends on the causes of the low blood pressure and the severity of the condition. Different adjustments and treatments are necessary. Mild low blood pressure not secondary to any disease is caused by physical weakness and an unreasonable dietary structure leading to decreased blood pressure. This only requires adjusting the dietary structure, consuming a high-energy, high-nutrient diet, eating broths, and paying attention to rest to improve the state of low blood pressure. If the blood pressure is too low and accompanied by other diseases such as infection, allergies, or bleeding, which cause the low blood pressure, the primary disease should be treated first. At the same time, under the guidance of a doctor, effective antihypotensive medication should be used for treatment.