What is Low Blood PressureWhat Is Considered Low Blood Pressure and Your Other Questions Answered. What is low blood pressure?blood pressure definition ?what is blood pressure reading?You might be asking this question in your mind ever since you heard about it. Well, wonder no more as this article will strive to simplify the answers to your question of "What is low blood pressure?" along with your other queries on the matter.
What is Hypotension?
If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, you would probably think that low blood pressure is God's gift. Well, it definitely is not because it is still an extreme thing in the normal scheme of health and you know what they say about extremes. Low blood pressure is known in medical circles as hypotension, which you have if your sphygmomanometer reading is at 90/60 mmHg or lower. (90 is the systolic reading while 60 is indeed a low diastolic blood pressure figure) You are lucky if and when your case is mild since no treatment is necessary. If not, you will have to face complications like cardiovascular, endocrine and neurological disorders, with fainting spells as the least of your worries.
How Is Low Blood Pressure Diagnosed?
Despite its tongue-twisting, ominous-sounding name, the sphygmomanometer is not a torture device. It is simply an inflatable cuff placed around your upper arm from which a blood pressure reading is made - no needles. Other diagnostic tests for hypotension that involve no pain whatsoever are an electrocardiogram, Holter monitor, echocardiogram, Valsalva maneuver, exercise stress and tilt-table test. When blood problems are considered as underlying causes, needles through blood tests are, unfortunately, required.
what causes low blood pressure?
Hypotension manifests itself through symptoms of blurred vision, cold and clammy pale skin, depression, dizziness, fainting, fatigue with a general feeling of weakness, nausea, heart palpitations, rapid and shallow breathing and a seemingly constant feeling of thirst. No, these symptoms are not those of a vampire hungry for blood, just for a human with low blood pressure. This is because vampires do not have to take alpha and beta blockers, tricyclic antidepressants, diuretics and Viagra as well as medications for Parkinson's disease. Only humans, too, will suffer from serious injuries with internal bleeding, septicemia due to severe infection, endocrine problems including diabetes, heart diseases, pregnancy, severe allergic reactions and diet deficiencies. Yes, the list of causes of hypotension is a long one indeed.
What Treatment for Low Blood Pressure Is Best?
After the preliminary question of "What is low blood pressure?" the next one will be treatment for low blood pressure. As previously mentioned, if your symptoms are mild, no treatment is necessary. However, if your symptoms can lead to serious complications, your doctor will recommend a regimen of treatment consisting of two or more of the following:
* Medications such as fludrocortisones * Change in medications and/or dosages * Treatment of the underlying illness * Hormone replacement therapy in case of adrenal gland failure * Salt and fluids * Compression stockings
Of course, you will also have to change your eating habits if and when it is the culprit. Do remember, however, that low blood pressure is not license to eat more cheesy and fatty foods.
So, now you know the basic answers to your "What is low blood pressure?" question. At the very least, you would have progressed from "What is low blood pressure?" to "What can I do to help myself avoid it?"
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