Hypotension - Symptoms, causes and treatment

Low blood or hypotension ais a condition when blood pressure is below 90/60 mmHg. Hypotension is generally harmless and can be experienced by anyone. But in some people,Hypotension can cause dizziness and weakness.

Normal blood pressure ranges between 90/60 mmHg and 120/80 mmHg. When blood pressure is below this range, then a person can be said to be suffering from hypotension. Although generally harmless, hypotension can be a symptom of an underlying disease.

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 heredity. 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.

  • Consumption of certain drugs

    Several types of drugs can cause blood pressure lowering effects, including: furosemide, atenolol, propranolol, levodopa, and sildenafil.

  • Hormone imbalance

    Some diseases, such as diabetes and thyroid disease, cause a decrease in hormone levels in the blood, and result in lower blood pressure.

  • Dehydration

    When you are dehydrated or dehydrated, your blood volume may also decrease. This condition can trigger a drop in blood pressure.

  • Infection

    When an infection that occurs in a tissue begins to enter the bloodstream (sepsis), blood pressure can increase

  • 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 deficiency

    Deficiency of vitamin B12 and folic acid can cause anemia and lead to a drop in blood pressure.

  • Bleeding

    Loss of large amounts of blood due to injury can reduce the volume and flow of blood to various body tissues, resulting in a drastic drop in blood pressure.

  • Severe allergic reaction

    Some allergy triggers (allergens) can cause a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) which results in a decrease in blood pressure.

Apart from the above factors, hypotension can occur when changing from a sitting or lying position 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 until blood accumulates in the legs. This condition is also known as neural-mediated hypotension (NMH). Most people with this type of hypotension are children.

Symptoms of Hypotension

Although it doesn't always cause symptoms, hypotension or low blood pressure can cause the following symptoms:

  • Dizzy
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Weak
  • Blurred vision
  • Decreased concentration
  • Body feels unstable
  • Faint
  • Hard to breathe

When to go to the doctor

Check with your doctor if you experience symptoms of hypotension. If after checking your blood pressure is below normal, the doctor will perform further tests to find out the cause of the hypotension.

Immediately contact a 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 through blood pressure checks. The doctor will use a blood pressure measuring device or sphygmomanometer to measure blood pressure.

If the results of the examination show a fairly low number accompanied by certain symptoms, the doctor will carry out further examinations to detect the possibility of certain conditions or diseases that cause hypotension. Examinations that will be carried out by the doctor 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 (ECG)

    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.

  • Cardiac exercise test (sstresss test)

    This test is done to assess the function of the heart when doing activities, by making the heart work harder, for example by asking the patient to walk or run on the ground. treadmill or give certain drugs that increase the work of the heart.

  • Valsalva maneuver

    This test is done by asking the patient to take a deep breath, then close the nose and exhale through the mouth. This test aims to check the condition of the nerves in the respiratory system.

  • Till 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 lie 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 thing to do is to sit or lie down. Position your feet higher than your heart and hold that position for a few moments. If the symptoms do not subside, then it needs to be treated by a doctor.

Treatment of hypotension is determined based on the underlying cause. The goals of treatment are to increase blood pressure, relieve symptoms, and treat conditions that cause hypotension.

The main treatment for hypotension is dietary and lifestyle changes, such as:

  • Increase consumption of foods with high salt content, because salt can increase blood pressure.
  • Increase fluid consumption, because fluids can increase blood volume and help prevent dehydration.
  • Exercise regularly to increase blood pressure.
  • Using special stockings on the legs (compression stockings) to improve blood flow.

If the hypotension is caused by taking certain medications, the doctor will reduce the dose, or change the medication if necessary.

Hypotension accompanied by symptoms of shock is a condition that requires emergency treatment. Doctors will give intravenous fluids, drugs, to 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 prescribe treatment to treat 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:

  • Avoid consumption of caffeinated drinks at night and limit alcohol consumption.
  • Eat small but frequent meals, and don't get up immediately after eating.
  • Position the head higher when sleeping (about 15 cm).
  • Stand up slowly from a sitting or lying position.
  • Avoid prolonged standing or sitting, and avoid sitting cross-legged.
  • Do not bend over or change body position suddenly.
  • Avoid lifting heavy weights.

Complications of Hypotension

Dizziness and weakness caused by hypotension pose a risk of injury to the patient due to falls. Meanwhile, severe hypotension to the point of causing shock, can deprive the body of oxygen. This condition has an impact on the disruption of the function of various organs, such as the brain and heart.