Are you hypotension? Many healthcare experts consider people with low blood pressure are lucky and gifted by nature. So be happy for your condition.
What Is Healthy & Low Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps, if it is lower than healthy range known as low blood pressure.
The left lower chamber (ventricle) of the heart receives oxygenated blood from the lungs and the heart pumps blood throughout the body. The blood flow exerted pressure on the arteries during the heartbeat is called the systolic blood pressure. It is the first or top number in a blood pressure reading. The pulse you feel is the contraction of the heart's left ventricle.
The heart fills with blood between heartbeats; the pressure drops on the arteries; this is called diastolic blood pressure.
A blood pressure reading of 120/80 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury) is considered normal. If the reading is 90/60 or lower, then it is considered as low blood pressure.
The medical term for low BP is hypotension. Low pressure would seem to be something to strive for! Because high blood pressure (or hypertension) is a well-known risk factor for heart disease and other problems.
What are the factors that determine your blood pressure?
The pressure in your arteries depends on a couple of key factors; they are baroreceptors (pressure sensors in arteries & veins), blood volume, heart’s ability to pump, cardiac output, heart rate, and blood vessel elasticity.
- Baroreceptors are pressure sensors in your body. Healthy blood pressure maintenance depends on the ability of baroreceptors to measure the pressure.
- Blood volume: When the heart pumps more blood with every heartbeat, the blood pressure will be higher. On the other hand, if the heart pumps less blood with every heartbeat, then the blood pressure will be lower.
- Heart’s ability to pump: Proper heart valve functioning is essential for the heart's ability to pump blood through the body. Some heart valve problems are regurgitation (valve leakage), stenosis (valve narrowing), and atresia (valve not appropriately developed in a child).
- Cardiac output refers to the amount of blood the heart pumps in one minute. It is calculated by multiplying the heart rate by the stroke volume. If the heart beats 70 times per minute and pumps 70 ml of blood with each beat, then the cardiac output amounts to 4900 ml per minute.
- Heart rate refers to the number of times the heart beats in one minute (bpm). It can fluctuate based on the body's need for oxygen and carbon dioxide removal.
- Blood vessel elasticity: Thickened or narrowed artery walls create resistance to blood flow, leading to high blood pressure. Conversely, dilated artery walls reduce resistance, resulting in low blood pressure.
In addition, the effective operation of your kidneys, liver, and blood vessels is essential. Without understanding the underlying cause of low blood pressure, effective treatment for hypotension cannot be administered.
How does your body maintain healthy Blood Pressure?
Baroreceptors are sensors in the blood vessels that sense the blood pressure and send it to the brain, so that the brain maintains a healthy blood pressure by communicating with the kidneys, arteries, veins, and heart to increase, decrease, or maintain blood pressure, as needed.
The heart’s function is to ensure all the organs and tissues receive sufficient blood supply. If your blood pressure is too low, baroreceptors send signals to the brain. The brain instructs
- the heart to beat faster, pump more blood per beat,
- constructs the arteries (carry oxygen-enriched blood from the heart),
- relaxes the veins (brings oxygen-depleted blood to the heart)
Which results in raised blood pressure until it attains a healthy blood pressure.
If the previously discussed control loop fails to maintain healthy blood pressure, the kidneys become the next primary control system activated to help manage this process. If the blood pressure is low, the kidney keeps more water in the blood by excreting less urine than usual, thus increasing your blood pressure.
This control loop is slow-acting; it takes hours compared to baroreceptor control, which is very quick.
Is low blood pressure bad for your health?
People with low blood pressures have reduced risk for stroke, kidney disease, and heart disease. Healthy athletes who exercise regularly have lower blood pressures.
While low blood pressure can indicate good health and fitness, this is not universally true. Some low blood pressure causes may signal underlying health problems that require immediate attention to mitigate potential risks.
Understanding the risk factors for low blood pressure is crucial. This helps individuals to take proactive steps to prevent hypotension and its associated symptoms.
Many patients with low blood pressure report troubling symptoms like dizziness and fainting. These symptoms can signal severe underlying issues, including heart, endocrine, or neurological disorders. Awareness and early intervention are key to managing these risks effectively.
Severely low blood pressure can deprive the brain and other vital organs of oxygen and nutrients, leading to a life-threatening condition called shock.
Thus, you need to diagnose low blood pressure in time and take proper treatment by following
- Healthy low-blood pressure lifestyle, such as doing exercise regularly and eating nutritious foods,
- Following simple low blood pressure home remedies,
- Taking medication for low blood pressure and
- Can try natural low-blood pressure treatments such as herbs, yoga, acupressure & reflexology.
Other names for hypotension
Hypotension, commonly referred to as low blood pressure, encompasses various forms. These include neurally mediated hypotension, neurogenic orthostatic hypotension, and orthostatic hypotension. Additionally, postprandial hypotension and postural hypotension also fall under this category. Each type presents unique characteristics and implications for patient care.