Low blood pressure - symptoms of dizziness and weakness

Does it peak to get up when you get up or are you feeling powerless otherwise? When was the last time you measured your blood pressure? Low blood pressure may be the cause of the shaky feeling.

The good news is that, unlike high blood pressure, low blood pressure is considered to be quite a beneficial condition for health. After all, high blood pressure if left untreated can lead to stroke, heart failure, heart attack, and coronary heart disease, among other things.

The symptoms of low blood pressure are more life-threatening. The most common symptoms are:

• dizziness, especially when standing up
• vapors
• blurring of the eyes
• fainting
• cold sweat
• shortness of breath if there is not enough fluid in the bloodstream
• increased heart rate
• impotency
• bad feeling

Low blood pressure values

Ideal blood pressure is defined as less than 120/80 mm Hg. The reference values ​​for low blood pressure are not completely unambiguous. Low blood pressure is when the upper pressure is 100 millimetres of mercury (mm Hg) or lower.

The negative pressure, in turn, can be less than 70 millimetres of mercury. Blood pressure can be as high as 75-80 / 50-60 mm Hg without being a sign of disease.

Low blood pressure affects people of different ages in different ways. Healthy and young or middle-aged people do not have to worry about even low blood pressure levels. For example, young women 90/60 have a completely normal blood pressure reading and need not cause any problems.

Low blood pressure affects people of different ages in different ways.

In addition, it is worth noting that at night, blood pressure drops and the drop can be as much as 20-25 percent. The fact that blood pressure does not drop at night is rather a sign of a problem.

When measuring blood pressure, it is a good idea to keep in mind that an automatic meter may show a false low result if your heart rhythm is uneven. The cause may be, for example, atrial fibrillation. It is advisable to choose a high-quality blood pressure monitor because it detects atrial fibrillation and its measurement result is very reliable.

In the elderly, low blood pressure is more likely to cause problems. In many, blood pressure drops to stand up so much that it causes short-term dizziness. This is called orthostatic hypertension, which is a drop in blood pressure associated with an upright position. The decrease in blood pressure is due to the fact that the stiffened arteries do not have time to adapt quickly enough to changes in posture.

That’s why it’s worth learning to get out of bed calmly. I saw it especially in the morning after a long rest.

• When you get out of bed, first get up calmly to sit on the edge of the bed.
• Wait in a sitting position for half a minute to a minute for your body to get used to the change.
• After waiting, get up calmly and get support if needed.

Do you suspect your blood pressure will drop sharply when you get up? You can check with a home meter. First, measure your blood pressure normally. Then get up and measure your blood pressure again after standing for half a minute. If your blood pressure drops by more than 20 notches and dizziness when you get up, the cause of the discomfort is probably too low blood pressure.

The cause of low blood pressure in the elderly needs to be determined

There can be various causes of low blood pressure in the elderly, such as some cardiovascular disease. Such heart disease can be, for example, heart failure. As it progresses, heart failure causes low blood pressure because the heart is unable to pump blood. Medication associated with the disease can also lower blood pressure.

An elderly person's low blood pressure may also be caused by a vascular disease. Some anti hypertensive drugs can cause a rapid drop in blood pressure when standing. In general, however, this is not dangerous. In addition, problems with blood flow regulation cause low blood pressure, which can lead to a person fainting.

If the elderly have low blood pressure caused by a metabolic disorder, it is not the only symptom of the disease. Other symptoms include severe fatigue and severe weakness.

In any case, it is worth investigating the causes of low blood pressure in the elderly.

Other diseases of an elderly person may be due to fragility-splinter syndrome or Addison's disease. There also seems to be a link between low blood pressure and dementia. Researchers say dementia is more likely to cause low blood pressure than vice versa.

In any case, it is worth investigating the causes of low blood pressure in the elderly. It may also be appropriate to check whether low blood pressure may be associated with medications such as dehydration medication. In particular, over-medication and concomitant use of multiple drugs may be affected. It is then advisable to investigate whether the medication can be dismantled or the medications can be replaced with other medications.

Low blood pressure can be prevented

Although low blood pressure is not usually dangerous, the symptoms it causes can be troublesome. There are some ways to prevent low blood pressure:

• Rest enough.
• Drink (especially water) enough.
• Eat regularly.
• Keep your blood sugar in balance.
• In severe cases, use support socks.
• Increase the use of salt and / or salmia.

However, there are two approaches to increasing salt use. According to other guidelines, the use of salt can be increased moderately. In the opposite direction, it is not recommended to increase salt intake, as the overall harm to the body is considered to outweigh the benefit of the increase in blood pressure. It is probably wisest to negotiate your situation with health professionals.

Treating low blood pressure with medication is quite tricky. In some cases, your doctor may prescribe a medicine that acts like your body's salt hormone. Vasoconstriction can also be tried, but they may not work as well as desired.

A low vacuum may not be just a good thing

In general, low blood pressure is considered a good and health-promoting thing. However, a couple of extensive studies have shown that too low a vacuum is not good for health.

The problem is that low vacuum does not cause any symptoms, so it may not be noticed.

The studies found that people with a vacuum of 60-69 mm Hg had twice as much damage to their heart as those with a vacuum of 80-89 mm Hg. Lower pressures also appeared to be associated with an increased risk of heart disease and overall mortality.

The low vacuum does not cause any symptoms.

Similarly, another large study found that both high hypertension (above 140 mm Hg) and low blood pressure (below 120/70 mm Hg) were associated with a higher risk of heart attack, hospital-induced heart failure, or death over the next five years. According to this study, the optimal blood pressure is 120-139 / 70-79 mm Hg.

According to these studies, it is not advisable to aim for the lowest possible blood pressure, and when lowering high blood pressure, it is important to monitor the values ​​of low blood pressure.

Monitor blood pressure levels at home

It is wisest to monitor your own blood pressure with regular measurements. In young people, low blood pressure is not usually a problem, but the cause of low blood pressure in older people is still worth finding out.

Medication for the treatment of low blood pressure should be discussed with your healthcare professional, as well as a possible small increase in salt or salmon use.

Causes of harmful low blood pressure

In the elderly, low blood pressure is often caused by a disease of the blood vessels of the heart. It is quite common for blood pressure to drop when you get up so much that you feel dizzy for a short time (orthostatic hypo tension, or a drop in blood pressure associated with standing up). The phenomenon is because the stiffened arteries do not have time to adapt quickly enough to the change in posture. Also, some anti hypertensive and other medications can lead to a drop in blood pressure when standing. The phenomenon when mild is usually not dangerous and can be prevented by getting up gradually and calmly from lying down or sitting.

Some rare metabolic disorders (see Adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease) ) are associated with low blood pressure. There are other symptoms, such as considerable tiredness and weakness, which require a doctor. In the elderly, hypo tension may occur in association with heart failure and other heart diseases.

A momentary drop in blood pressure associated with the regulation of blood circulation leads to fainting. For more on this topic:

When to treat

If you constantly get dizzy while standing up, you should see a doctor.

Care

There is a respiratory medicine called Effort for low blood pressure. It’s not very effective, but can help you cope with the day’s chores. If you are taking anti hypertensive drugs and dizziness in an upright position, your doctor may look for a safer drug in this regard. In difficult cases, a drug that acts as a salt hormone can be tried to raise blood pressure.

Increase in blood pressure during pregnancy

Hypertension during pregnancy is the most common additional illness (complication) during pregnancy, occurring in 6-7% of expectant mothers. Pregnancy hypertension is considered if the blood pressure is above 140/90 mm Hg or has risen from its baseline by more than 30/15 mmHg.

Pre-eclampsia (formerly toxemia, “gestational poisoning”) refers to a condition in which blood pressure rises above the level of 140/90 mmHg after the 20th week of pregnancy and is associated with urinary protein excretion. Mild pre-eclampsia is when blood pressure remains below 160/110 mm Hg, little protein is excreted in the urine, and the waiter is well. Severe pre-eclampsia is present if blood pressure levels are higher than this, high amounts of protein are excreted in the urine, and the mother has various symptoms. 2-3% of Finnish mothers suffer from pre-eclampsia.

The cause of pre-eclampsia is unknown, but it is generally considered a placental disease. Risk factors for pre-eclampsia include first pregnancy, multiple pregnancies, congestion, age less than 20 years or more than 40 years, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, connective tissue disease, and chronic kidney disease. Pre-eclampsia recurs in the next pregnancy by about 15%. Susceptibility to pre-eclampsia is inherited.

Pre-eclampsia leads to a decrease in placental circulation, which in turn slows fetal growth (see Fetal growth retardation ). There is an increased risk of placental abruption.

Symptoms

Initially, an increase in blood pressure (see High blood pressure (hypertension) ) does not cause symptoms. When the disease gets worse, headaches, upper abdominal pain, and blurred vision, as well as severe swelling may occur. Swelling without an increase in blood pressure does not indicate pre-eclampsia. The most serious symptom is a seizure (eclampsia).

Detection of disease

Blood pressure levels are monitored regularly at the clinic and, if necessary, monitored more frequently. In a normal pregnancy, systolic blood pressure remains slightly below pre-pregnancy levels most of the time. In less than half of pregnant women, blood pressure drops slightly in the middle third and then recovers.

Blood pressure must be measured at each consultation visit; it may rise very quickly and in the short term. Blood pressure should be measured correctly: from the right bare arm, after at least 15 minutes of rest, and using a cuff of sufficient length and width. Adventurers may need to purchase a home meter; it facilitates, if necessary, enhanced monitoring when blood pressure exceeds 140/90 mm Hg or when the client is at risk.

The clinic monitors the urinary excretion of protein by a strip test (see Urine Chemical Screening (U-KemSeul) ). Those who are found to have high blood pressure will be taught to perform a home strip test (depending on the severity of the situation, the test will be done 1 to 3 times a week after the 24th week of pregnancy).

From the very beginning, counseling follow-up aims to find those expectant who need more close monitoring during pregnancy at the hospital's maternity clinic. The mother is sent to a maternity hospital for follow-up if blood pressure levels rise rapidly and protein is excreted in the urine. At the maternity hospital, more detailed laboratory examinations are taken and fetal growth and well-being are assessed using electrocardiography and heart rate curve.

Self-care and prevention

Pre-eclampsia is not yet predicted or prevented. For those at high risk of pre-eclampsia, low-dose acetylsalicylic acid (“aspirin”) therapy may be considered. Such a situation has erupted in early pre-eclampsia in previous pregnancies. Medication is started no later than the 16th week of pregnancy.

Rest is part of treatment if your blood pressure is high. The use of salt should be avoided, but otherwise fluids should be ingested adequately. The pregnancy of a woman with hypertension is monitored more closely from the beginning. If medication is used, it is appropriate to check its suitability for maternal and fetal well-being before pregnancy.

When to see a doctor

Examinations should be considered at the planning stage of pregnancy if a woman has chronic kidney disease or severe hypertension. In early pregnancy, the medication is checked at a clinic or maternity clinic. The blood pressure level, symptoms (headache, blurred vision), urine sample (protein secretion), and possible underlying disease are crucial for starting anti hypertensive treatment.

A waiting person under the supervision of the clinic, who is diagnosed with high blood pressure or with a clear secretion of protein in the urine, is sent to the appointment desk of the maternity clinic. Usually, the aim is to call the maternity clinic within one week.

The expectant should seek direct maternity hospital emergency services (especially if blood pressure levels are known to be elevated) if they experience severe headache, upper abdominal pain, or shortness of breath, or the edema worsens rapidly with decreased urination.

Anti hypertensive therapy is initiated if the systolic pressure level is greater than 160 mm Hg or the diastolic pressure level is greater than 105 mm Hg, in other situations at discretion. Medication is started at the maternity clinic by a specialist. The pre-eclampsia patient and fetus are monitored in the maternity hospital either in the ward or in the maternity ward.

Effect on subsequent health

Pre-eclampsia is important for later health as it appears to be a predictor of cardiovascular disease in the mother and child. Recent studies have shown that a woman with pre-eclampsia is 2-3 times more likely to develop coronary heart disease. This suggests that pre-eclampsia reflects a general susceptibility to vascular disease. Therefore, a woman should monitor her blood pressure and cholesterol levels, especially during and after menopause. Lifestyle can affect the risk of disease.