if you are experiencing symptoms of low blood pressure, consult your doctor. Picture: Supplied. Source: Supplied

THE risks of high blood pressure are well known. But low blood pressure can be problematic, too. Here?s what to do.

We all know having high blood pressure puts you at risk of a heart attack and stroke, but what if your blood pressure is too low? a growing number of people are seeking treatment for hypotension (low blood pressure), says cardiologist Dr Gautam Vaddadi from the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Research Institute in Melbourne. “People assume low blood pressure is good because they won’t have a heart attack,” he says. “But if your blood pressure is too low you can be prone to recurrent fainting, which is disabling.” low blood pressure doesn’t always cause problems, but symptoms can include: + Dizziness+ Blurred vision + Feeling shaky+ Nausea+ Fatigue+ Fainting

>> why it happensSome people have a natural tendency to low blood pressure, but even if you know you have it, symptoms such as dizziness or fainting should be investigated. It can also be a sign of something more serious. “call an ambulance if someone passes out and it’s the first time it’s happened,” Dr Vaddadi says. Some people look as though they are having a seizure and can lose control of their bladder or bowels when they faint. there could be underlying factors including heart disease, brain disease (stroke, epilepsy) or other metabolic or blood disorders.Some drugs, particularly those for high blood pressure, can cause blood pressure to become too low. Diuretics, which increase the amount of urine your kidneys excrete, can cause blood pressure to drop, as can some antibiotics. a Canadian study found people on blood-pressure medication and certain antibiotics were up to six times more likely to be hospitalised for low blood pressure.

>> Diet’s roleIf you drink a lot of caffeine and not enough water, you risk dehydration, which can cause your blood pressure to drop. And if you drink a lot of alcohol and don’t eat enough, your blood pressure can drop so low you pass out, Dr Vaddadi says. “It’s not what you expect to hear from a cardiologist, but sometimes a bit of salt can make dizzy spells go away,” he says. Smaller meals can also help. “when you eat a big meal, blood is diverted to the gut to help digestion, so some people with low blood pressure can pass out.”

>> How to avoid fainting“when someone faints, people often feel they should prop them up or support them,” Dr Vaddadi says. “however, lying down gets blood to the brain more quickly. sometimes you can prevent a fainting spell by crossing your legs in a standing position and clenching your buttocks and thighs for 10 to 15 seconds.” this squeezes the blood vessels in the legs and allows more blood to reach the brain.

“I was worried I’d faint at the altar”Laura Greaves, 30, has had low blood pressure for most of her life. “the first time I fainted I was about 12, but it didn’t occur to me it might be blood pressure-related. For about 10 years, from the age of 15 or so, I’d faint a handful of times a year. I passed out in some pretty strange places! I was eventually diagnosed with low blood pressure.“I rarely feel the actual fall and I don’t seem to lose consciousness - as soon as I’m on the ground I come good. “the fainting always starts the same way: the edges of my vision go dark and everything goes black pretty quickly. if I’m talking to someone, their voice will recede into the distance. “I’ve fainted in several queues. Standing still for an extended period is a trigger, especially if it’s hot or stuffy. “I was so worried I’d faint at the altar during my wedding that my now-husband and I worked out a signalling system in case I suddenly felt I was going to pass out. Luckily, the ceremony was uneventful. “I avoid long queues or other circumstances where I have to stand up for a long time. I don’t skip meals and I try to stay hydrated. Earlier this year I nearly fainted while driving, which was a bit scary, but I managed to pull over and it quickly passed.”

London, Feb 13 : A drug that lowers blood pressure could harm patients if given after a stroke, says a new study.

A Norwegian study of 2,000 stroke patients, who had high blood pressure, found that more of those treated with the drug candesartan suffered from kidney failure than those who were not given it. More also suffered symptoms due to low blood pressure, such as dizziness.The academics from Oslo University concluded that administering candesartan, which belongs to the family of drugs called angiotensin-receptor blockers, did not give any benefit to the patients “and may actually be harmful”, the Lancet reports.Candesartan is sometimes given to stroke patients to lower blood pressure, which reduces the chances of another event, according to the Telegraph.However, they said the differences in harmful outcomes between those given the drug and those not was not statistically significant.Besides, the actual numbers who suffered these side effects was small. only 18 of the candesartan group suffered kidney failure, compared to 13 in the placebo group; while the figures for low blood pressure symptoms were nine and five respectively.Elspeth McAusland, of The Stroke Association, UK, said: “This research suggests that stroke physicians should avoid using blood pressure lowering medication at this stage, however more research needs to be done in this area.”

Just like what happens other than extreme pain?

you could collapse

Low blood pressure, increased heart rate, and a multitude of other signd aand symptoms, depending on the type of trauma.

I have been having these symptom for the past month:

-extreme fatigue
-isomnia
-low blood pressure
-feeling faint
-dizziness
-hard time getting out of bed in the morning
-irritablity
-sadness
-feeling weak

They are symptoms of depression, be careful.

It might be depression or that you're stressed. Although there are some things with those symptoms that aren't very healthy, so you should probably see a doctor.

Most of them are.
I would guess though that the insomnia is contributing to the exhaustion.
I am also not sure if sadness is a symptom of exhaustion.
best to get a check up with a PCP or GP

Low blood pressure symptoms (hypotension) are side effects of bulimia and anorexia. what causes low blood pressure in people with eating disorders, and what’s really going on inside the bodies of anorexics and bulimics?

Low blood pressure symptoms are probably more common in anorexia sufferers. Self starvation and malnutrition have their own symptoms and side effects. All of this adds to the already-complicated treatment of anorexia or bulimia.

One of the things that happens during starvation is muscle atrophy — which means that the muscles are shrinking or deteriorating. Keeping in mind that the heart is a muscle, you can see where this is going.

because of the reduced size of the heart, blood flow is diminished, which results in symptoms of low blood pressure, as well as (but not limited to) reduced body temperature and dehydration.

Hypotension, like most eating disorders, can be difficult to detect in the sense that sometimes the individual shows no symptoms, and may appear to be perfectly well. some people might get a low blood pressure headache, while others could be burdened with symptoms and be catastrophically unwell.

If you experience any of the following low blood pressure symptoms, it might be a good idea to see your physician to ensure that there’s nothing serious going on.

if you have (or have had) and eating disorder, hopefully you’re already being monitored closely by a doctor to make sure that things don’t get worse.

• Headache
• Dizziness, feeling “wobbly”
• Fainting
• Fast, shallow breathing
• Increased anxiety attack symptoms; feelings of panic or doom
• Feeling cold
• Difficulty concentrating
• Feelings of nausea

If you feel any numbness, weakness, chest pain, or experience fainting spells call 911 immediately. These symptoms are similar to that of a heart attack or stroke, and you should be seen by a doctor ASAP.

When it comes to low blood pressure readings, everyone is different. Having a lower BP can actually be a good thing because your risk of getting heart disease or stroke will be significantly reduced.

What doctors consider to be a clinically low blood pressure reading is something around 90/60. if your BP is less than that, it’s probably not enough to set off the alarm bells because this could be normal for you.

when headaches, dizziness and/or fainting occur, those could be signs of a sudden drop in blood pressure, and would be cause for concern.

One of the benefits of regular, annual check-ups with your doctor is that he/she will become familiar with your vital signs and normal heart rate. He/she can establish a baseline for what is normal in your situation, and if anything seems off, your doctor should pick up on it fairly quickly.