Hypotension diagnosis tests

Evaluating low blood pressure underlying cause, helps determine the correct treatment and identify any heart, brain or nervous system problems that may be responsible.

Common low blood pressure diagnosis tests

Doctor’s may recommend one or more of the following low blood pressure tests:

Hypotension blood tests
These can provide a certain amount of information about the overall health as well as whether have low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) or a low number of red blood cells (anemia), both of which can cause lower than normal blood pressure.

Electrocardiogram (ECG, EKG) for hypotension diagnosis
This non-invasive test, which can be performed in the doctor's office, detects irregularities in the heart rhythm, structural abnormalities in the heart, and problems with the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart muscle. It can also tell if having a heart attack or if have had a heart attack in the past. Sometimes patients may be asked to wear a 24-hour Holter monitor to record the heart's electrical activities during daily routine.

Echocardiogram for low blood pressure diagnosis
Using the same technology that allows us to view a fetus in the womb, an echocardiogram uses sound waves to produce images of the heart that may show abnormalities in the heart muscle or valves.

Stress test for hypotension diagnosis
Some heart problems which can cause low blood pressure are easier to diagnose when the heart is working harder than when it's at rest. During a stress test, patient should exercise, such as walking on a treadmill. (Or, may be given medication to make the heart work harder for those who unable to exercise.) When the heart is working harder, health professional will monitor’s the blood pressure and heart (with echocardiography).

Valsalva maneuver for low blood pressure test
This non-invasive test checks the functioning of the autonomic nervous system by analyzing the heart rate and blood pressure after several cycles of a type of deep breathing (take a deep breath and then force the air out through the lips, as if trying to blow up a stiff balloon.)

Tilt-table low blood pressure test
If have low blood pressure on standing, or from faulty brain signals (neurally mediated hypotension), doctor may suggest a tilt-table test, which evaluates how the body reacts to changes in position. During the test, patient should lie on a table that's tilted to raise the upper part of the body, which simulates the movement from a prone to a standing position.

Once the causes of low blood pressure is diagnosed then it helps to raise the blood pressure with ease.