Do you feel dizzy with a constant feeling of exhaustion and fatigue? 

What is pressure drop?

Hypotension is a condition that affects a person in which the blood pressure in the arteries is less than 60/90 mm Hg, which causes a lack of blood flow to the various organs of the body. In some cases, the symptoms of low pressure may not appear at first except a feeling of slight dizziness due to a health problem or other reasons.

What are the causes of low blood pressure?

Before we get to know the symptoms of low blood pressure, we must mention what are the causes that lead to this condition, the most important of which are:

• Sudden standing, especially in the elderly.
• Exposure to severe bleeding or internal bleeding.
• Malnutrition, especially with strenuous physical activity.
• Dehydration due to loss of fluids in the body.
• A severe infection may lead to low blood pressure.
• During pregnancy due to the expansion of blood vessels and increased blood circulation to the fetus.
• Taking some medications such as diuretics, heart medications, and antidepressants.
• A hormonal disorder such as adrenal insufficiency or a deficiency of thyroid hormones.
• Heart problems, such as slow heartbeat or severe heart attacks.

Get to know Blood pressure medications When to use it and how to choose?

What are the symptoms of low blood pressure?

Symptoms of low blood pressure vary from person to person depending on their severity and the reasons that led to low blood pressure. These symptoms include the following:

• Feeling dizzy: Dizziness and vertigo are among the most common symptoms. The patient feels imbalanced until he reaches the point of fainting, especially when standing up suddenly.
• Fainting: In some severe cases, the patient may lose consciousness due to insufficient blood supply to the brain.
• Blurred and distorted vision: The patient suffers from blurred vision for a short period, especially when changing position from lying down to sitting or vice versa.
• Chronic fatigue and exhaustion: a constant feeling of exhaustion, unexplained fatigue, and a state of general weakness in the body, even after getting enough rest, due to insufficient blood access to the tissues and muscles.
• Vomiting and nausea: Due to the blood flow to the digestive system, the patient may feel the desire to vomit due to stomach disorders.
• Cold extremities and pale skin: As a result of lack of blood flow and poor circulation, the patient feels cold in the extremities and the skin appears pale.
• Dry mouth and feeling thirsty: With low blood pressure resulting from dehydration, the patient faces dry mouth, which results in a constant feeling of thirst.
• Arrhythmia: The heart tries to compensate for the lack of blood flow by increasing the pulse rate, which leads to heart palpitations (flutter).
• Depression: Due to lack of blood flow to the brain, the person becomes depressed and suffers from severe mood swings and a general feeling of sadness.

Diagnosis of low blood pressure 

It is preferable that low blood pressure be diagnosed in an accurate medical manner in the event of recurrence of symptoms. The best and most accurate diagnostic methods are the following:

• Measurement using a blood pressure device, either with a traditional mercury device, or using a digital device in clinics.
• The doctor takes different measurements throughout the day in different positions of the patient when sitting and standing.
• Comprehensive clinical examination and observation of symptoms of low blood pressure, such as dizziness and the stability of the heartbeat.
• Additional tests if necessary, such as blood analysis, ECG, adrenal gland examination, and heart function. 

Book your consultation now at مركز الرعاية الأولية At Al Mousa Specialist Hospital.

Treating symptoms of low blood pressure

Below we learn about ways to treat the symptoms of low blood pressure, which combine drug treatment with changing some of the wrong habits that lead to this condition:

أولًا: العلاج الدوائي

Doctors recommend drug treatment for some chronic conditions that suffer from recurrent episodes of low blood pressure. Among the most important medications that help lower blood pressure are:

• Erythropoietin, which is used for patients with severe anemia or kidney failure.
• Fludrocortisone, which increases sodium and fluid retention to increase blood volume.
• Midodrine is a drug that constricts blood vessels to increase blood pressure and is used to treat orthostatic hypotension. 

Second: Changing lifestyle

Some home remedies and lifestyle changes may help treat low blood pressure, including:

• Increase fluid intake, the most important of which is water and drinks that contain electrolytes, such as coconut juice.
• Increase the amount of salt in food, but in a moderate amount, neither excessive nor negligent, so that the kidney patient is not harmed.
• Healthy nutrition that contains foods rich in vitamin B12 and folic acid, such as red meat.

Third: Treating the causes of low blood pressure

It is necessary to treat the underlying causes of low blood pressure, the most important of which is treating dehydration with intravenous fluids, in addition to controlling sugar levels in the body, correcting heart problems, and treating adrenal insufficiency and endocrine disorders. 

Fourth: Treating emergency situations

If a person experiences a severe episode of low blood pressure that leads to fainting, then first aid must be given to treat him, which includes:

1. Make sure to provide good ventilation in the place.
2. Place the patient on his back and raise his feet above heart level.
3. Give him a drink that contains a lot of sugar or salt to restore consciousness
4. Request urgent assistance if the patient does not respond to first aid within minutes.

What to do when ارتفاع ضغط الدم وكيفية التشخيص والعلاج

How to prevent low blood pressure 

After learning about the symptoms of low blood pressure in detail and ways to treat them, the doctors at Al Mousa Specialist Hospital provide us with some tips that help prevent low blood pressure, the most important of which are:

• Consume salt in food moderately, which helps raise blood pressure.

1. Pay attention to some of the medications you take and check for side effects, as they may cause low blood pressure.
2. Drink sufficient amounts of water, 2 to 3 liters per day, so that the body does not become dehydrated.
3. Make sure to eat small meals frequently every day so that there is no sudden drop in blood pressure.
4. Avoid drinking alcohol completely because it causes blood vessels to dilate, causing blood pressure to drop.
5. Continue to exercise daily with proper nutrition based on fresh foods.
6. Avoid standing suddenly for long periods and prefer to get out of bed slowly, especially when waking up in the morning.

Recurring symptoms of low blood pressure means that you need a specialized doctor who will recommend an effective treatment for you and identify the causes of low blood pressure. Therefore, if you feel these symptoms repeatedly, contact Al Mousa Specialist Hospital immediately, and a group of the best specialized internal medicine doctors will supervise your condition until your condition is completely stabilized.

Frequently asked questions

Below we answer the most common questions we receive about the symptoms of low blood pressure:

What should you do when the pressure drops?

When the pressure drops, the patient should lie on his back with the legs slightly raised to increase blood flow to the heart, while giving him good ventilation, in addition to eating any foods that contain a high percentage of salt.

Does low blood pressure cause heaviness in the head?

Yes, in some cases, low pressure causes heaviness in the head due to stopping blood flow to the brain, and this feeling increases when standing suddenly.

How do I know low pressure without a device?

Sometimes low pressure can be determined by the appearance of the symptoms of low pressure that we mentioned above, but this is an inaccurate method, so it is better to measure the pressure with the device to be sure and take the necessary medication.

المصادر:
Low Blood Pressure (Hypotension) – clevelandclinic

Low blood pressure – pennmedicine