Monday, June 4, 2012

Is Low Blood Pressure Life Threatening?

By Shannon L Smith


If you experience a sudden spell of dizziness or you faint occasionally, it could be possible that you have low blood pressure. If you are young and healthy, you don't need to get too perturbed about it. However, it would be a good idea to consult a doctor. If you are elderly and have these symptoms, you should definitely see your doctor. Low blood pressure is the opposite of high blood pressure and is medically termed as hypotension.

If the blood pressure is below 90 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury) or less than that at the top of the scale or 60 mm Hg or less on the lower scale, the patient is deemed to be suffering from low blood pressure. In case of high or low blood pressure, the patient needs to be diagnosed and treated.

People who have low blood pressure generally suffer from spells of dizziness and fainting. The most common symptoms of low blood pressure are:

People who have low blood pressure generally tend to faint or have spells of dizziness. There are some common symptoms of low blood pressure like;

There are different causes for low blood pressure. It may result from a faulty heart valve, low volume of blood, excessive dilation of the blood vessels and after undergoing surgery. There are other causes as well that can cause low blood pressure. It can also be caused by certain medications, like anti-depressants, diuretics and drugs that dilate the blood vessels.

There are a number of reasons for a person suffering from low blood pressure. The most common causes are; pregnancy, heart problems, dehydration, blood loss, severe infection, lack of nutrients in the diet. Temporary low blood pressure can be caused by standing up suddenly, taking excessive food or alcohol.

The treatment for low blood pressure will depend on the doctor's diagnosis. In certain cases, the doctor may just monitor your blood pressure and ask you to stop taking certain medications, or may give you a clean bill of health. Remember, there are certain medicines that can cause low blood pressure.

Younger people who suffer from spells of dizziness or fainting but have no physical problems don't need to worry about low blood pressure, but they should consult a doctor. Elderly people may have low blood pressure due to a variety of interrelated problems. It can be caused due to the problem of the heart, dilution of the blood or excessive loss of blood, or if you are suffering from a disease like Parkinson's disease, diabetes or certain heart conditions.

When you do go see a doctor and are diagnosed with low blood pressure, you must answer all the doctor's questions truthfully. Hiding facts never help and can add to the existing problems. Therefore, it's important to help the doctor to make correct diagnosis. Low blood pressure is not considered to be a life threatening condition. Therefore, by following your doctor's advice, you won't need to worry about your health. The doctor may recommend certain changes in your diet and lifestyle, which you should follow.




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