Low Blood Pressure - Why is Your Blood Pressure Low?

As a doctor interested in the subject, I am often asked if low blood pressure is normal or if such a reading indicates an abnormal process in the body? In fact - it can be difficult to define exactly what we mean by low BP. It all really depends on what is normal for you as an individual.

If the readings of 1000 people were measured, we can expect the readings to spread. These can range from as high as 200/120 to 80/50, and most people focus around the 130/85 level. Most of these people have no symptoms at all - no matter what their readings really were. Even those with a clearly small amount have no symptoms in most cases.

The answer to whether it is normal or abnormal if the reading is low depends on what your typical or average blood pressure level is.

Here is an example of when blood pressure is low.

If you’ve been reading for about 90/50 your whole life - no doubt you have “low blood pressure”, but there’s really nothing wrong with you or your reading. You should be happy that the risk of a stroke or heart attack is much lower than many others. You are unlikely to experience any symptoms of "low BP". Simply put - your level is normal for you and does not require examination or treatment. This type of "normal low blood pressure" will not cause you any symptoms and will not need to be treated. It’s just part of you and how your system works.

So when can it be an abnormal discovery?

If your blood pressure is usually around 130/80 and drops suddenly or gradually to about 90/50, it is very likely that you will be aware of the symptoms associated with this change. As in the example above, you have “low blood pressure,” but in this case, it’s not normal for you to have such a low reading. You may need to contact your doctor for tests because it is quite likely that some illness or perhaps medication has caused the bill you are reading. Someone with a small number of such cases often experiences the symptoms listed below.

Symptoms of abnormally low BP may include:

Feeling light, dizziness, tiredness, or fatigue on exertion, fainting, transient blurred vision, or transient confusion. All of these symptoms of low blood pressure disappear if the blood pressure returns to normal.

The following are many possible causes of low blood pressure when it is abnormally low:

Anxiety medications, antihypertensives, heart medications, diuretics or "water tablets" and some antidepressants. Other drug-related causes include painkillers and alcohol - especially if the two are mixed together!

Non-drug causes include dehydration, heart disease and valvular heart disease, recent heart attack, changes in heart rhythm, bacterial infections in the system, kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, and bleeding or hemorrhage.

As you can see, the list of reasons above is extensive and you should consult your doctor if you are in any way concerned. Above all - don’t try to diagnose your condition - seek help if you’re worried.

A low BP reading isn’t likely to do you any serious harm, but it can leave you pretty miserable.

Gordon Cameron is a doctor working in Edinburgh, Scotland. He is particularly interested in treating blood pressure.