Low blood pressure or hypotension is a condition when the blood pressure is below 90/60 mmHg. hypotension can happen to anyone, it can be symptomatic or not. However, in some people, hypotension can cause dizziness and weakness.
Normal blood pressure ranges between 90/60 mmHg and 120/80 mmHg. When the blood pressure falls below this range, a person is said to be suffering from hypotension. Although generally harmless, hypotension can be a symptom of an ongoing illness..
Causes of Hypotension
Blood pressure can change over time, depending on the conditions and activities that each person does. This condition is normal, because blood pressure is influenced by many factors, including age and genetics. Not only in adults, low blood pressure can also occur in children.
In addition, hypotension can also be caused by certain conditions or diseases, such as::
- Pregnancy
Blood pressure during pregnancy will decrease along with the development of blood circulation in the body of pregnant women.
- Take certain drugs
Several types of drugs can cause the effect of lowering blood pressure, including furosemide, atenolol, propranolol, levodopa, and sildenafil.
- Hormonal imbalance
Some diseases, such as diabetes and thyroid disease, cause decreased levels of hormones in the blood, resulting in lower blood pressure.
- Dehydration
When you lack fluids or become dehydrated, your blood volume can also decrease. This condition can trigger a drop in blood pressure.
- Infection
When an infection that occurs in a tissue starts to enter the bloodstream (sepsis)
- Heart disease
Disruption of heart function causes the heart to not be able to pump blood properly throughout the body, so blood pressure will decrease. One of the heart diseases that can cause hypotension is cardiogenic shock.
- Nutritional deficiencies
Lack of vitamin B12 and folic acid can cause anemia and lead to a drop in blood pressure.
- Bleeding
Large amounts of blood loss due to injury can reduce blood volume and flow to various body tissues, resulting in a drastic drop in blood pressure Severe allergic reaction
- Some allergens (allergens)
can cause a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) which results in lowering blood pressure.
Apart from some of the causes above, hypotension can occur when changing positions from sitting or lying down to a standing position. This type of hypotension is known as orthostatic hypotension or postural hypotension.
Hypotension can also occur when a person stands for too long so that blood accumulates in the legs. This condition is also called neural mediated hypotension (NMH). Most of the sufferers of this type of hypotension are children.
Symptoms of Hypotension
Although it doesn't always cause symptoms, hypotension or low blood pressure has the risk of causing the following symptoms:
> Dizzy
> Nausea and vomiting
> Limp
> Blurred vision
> Concentration is reduced
> The body feels unstable
> Fainting
> Hard to breathe
When to See a Doctor
Check with your doctor if you experience symptoms of hypotension. If after checking your blood pressure is below normal, the doctor will carry out further tests to find out the cause of the hypotension.
Immediately contact your doctor or visit the nearest hospital if you experience symptoms of shock, such as palpitations, cold sweats, and shortness of breath. Blood pressure that is so low that it causes shock needs to be treated immediately because it can be life threatening.
Hypotension Diagnosis
Hypotension or low blood pressure can be detected by checking blood pressure. The doctor will use a blood pressure measuring device or sphygmomanometer to measure blood pressure.
If the results of the examination show a low enough number accompanied by certain symptoms, the doctor will carry out further tests to detect the possibility of certain conditions or diseases that cause hypotension. The examinations that the doctor will do include:
- Blood test
This examination is done by the doctor to check the level of sugar and hormone levels in the patient's blood.
- Electrocardiography (EKG)
Electrocardiography aims to detect abnormal heart structures and irregular heartbeats.
- Echocardiogram
This test is done to check heart function and detect abnormalities that occur in the heart.
- Heart training test (stress test)
This test is done to assess heart function while doing activities, by making the heart work harder, for example by asking the patient to walk or run on a treadmill or give certain drugs that increase the work of the heart.
- Tilt table test
This test is performed on orthostatic hypotensive patients to see the difference in blood pressure when lying down and standing. In this examination, the patient will be lying on a table that can be moved to an upright and transverse position at a certain speed.
Hypotension Treatment
If you experience hypotension accompanied by symptoms, the first course of action is to sit or lie down. Position your feet higher than your heart and hold this position for a few moments. If the symptoms do not subside, it is necessary to be treated by a doctor.
Hypotension treatment is determined based on the underlying cause. The goals of treatment are to raise blood pressure, relieve symptoms, and treat conditions that cause hypotension.
The main treatment for hypotension is diet and lifestyle changes, such as:
> Increase the consumption of foods with high salt levels, because salt can increase blood pressure.
> Increase the consumption of fluids, because fluids can increase blood volume and help prevent dehydration.
> Exercise regularly to increase blood pressure.
> Using special stockings on the leg (compression stockings) to improve blood flow.
If hypotension is caused by taking certain drugs, the doctor will reduce the dose, or change the type of drug if necessary.
Hypotension accompanied by symptoms of shock is a condition that requires emergency treatment. The doctor will provide intravenous fluids, drugs, and blood transfusions to increase blood pressure, thereby preventing damage to organ function.
After stabilizing the patient's blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, and breathing, the doctor will provide treatment to address the cause. For example, giving antibiotics to treat infections that have entered the blood.
Hypotension Prevention
There are several ways that can be done to prevent or reduce the symptoms of hypotension, namely:
> Avoiding consumption of caffeinated drinks at night and limiting alcohol consumption.
> Eat small, frequent meals and do not stand up immediately after eating.
> Positioning the head higher when sleeping (about 15 cm).
> Stand up slowly from a sitting or lying position.
> Avoiding standing or sitting for too long, and avoiding sitting cross-legged.
> Not bending over or changing body positions suddenly.
> Avoid lifting heavy weights.
> Low blood pressure or hypotension is a condition when the blood pressure is below 90/60 mmHg.
Conclusion
> Some diseases, such as diabetes and thyroid disease, cause decreased levels of hormones in the blood, resulting in lower blood pressure.
> When an infection in a tissue starts to enter the bloodstream (sepsis), blood pressure can drop drastically.
> The disruption of heart function causes the heart to not be able to pump blood properly throughout the body, so that blood pressure will decrease.
> Large amounts of blood loss due to injury can reduce blood volume and flow to various body tissues, resulting in a drastic drop in blood pressure.
> Hypotension or low blood pressure can be detected by checking blood pressure.
> The doctor will use a blood pressure measuring device or sphygmomanometer to measure blood pressure.
> If the results of the examination show a low enough number accompanied by certain symptoms, the doctor will carry out further tests to detect the possibility of certain conditions or diseases that cause hypotension.
> This test is performed on orthostatic hypotensive patients to see the difference in blood pressure when lying down and standing.
> The goals of treatment are to raise blood pressure, relieve symptoms, and treat conditions that cause hypotension.
Source:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/low-blood-pressure/symptoms-causes/syc-20355465
Low blood pressure. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/low-blood-pressure
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https://www.idntimes.com/health/fitness/nena-zakiah-1/penyebab-tPress-darah-rendah