Expert Insights on Low Blood Pressure

Hypotension can occur due to a wide variety of causes. For orthostatic hypotension, it occurs when you stand up too quickly and your body is unable to compensate with more blood flow to your brain. It can also be caused by central nervous system diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease, because these conditions affect how your nervous system controls your blood pressure.

Other causes include low blood volume which can be caused by dehydration or blood loss from severe injuries, heart and lung conditions, and prescription medications. Life threatening conditions such as irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias), pulmonary embolism, heart attacks, and a collapsed lung can also create low blood pressure. Low blood pressure can also be caused by alcohol or recreational drugs, pregnancy, or extreme temperatures.

Hypotension itself is very easy to diagnose, as it only consists of taking a blood pressure measurement. The difficulty lies in determining the underlying cause of your low blood pressure. Your doctor may order a blood or urine test to look for factors such as diabetes, vitamin deficiencies, thyroid or hormone problems, anemia, or pregnancy.

If your doctor suspects that a heart or lung condition is responsible for your hypotension, they may order imaging tests such as X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, or echocardiograms. Diagnostic testing may also be necessary to rule out any specific heart problems, so you may require an electrocardiogram (EKG), exercise stress testing, or tilt table test.

To treat hypotension, the first step is determining the cause. If the underlying cause of this condition is treatable, then low blood pressure will typically resolve itself during treatment. If the cause of hypotension is not determined, treatment still exists to manage the condition, although it is only curable if there is an underlying cause that is curable.

Treatment for hypotension includes increasing blood volume, which can be done through IV fluids, plasma, or blood transfusions. Your doctor may also prescribe medications that cause your blood vessels to constrict, or medications that force your kidneys to retain fluid and salt in your body, which will help to manage low blood pressure.

The most common symptoms of hypotension occur due to your brain not receiving enough blood flow. These symptoms include dizziness or feeling lightheaded, nausea or vomiting, fainting, blurred or distorted vision, shallow breathing, fatigue, confusion or trouble concentrating, and agitation. If you experience an increase in symptoms or your symptoms are the result of taking prescription medications, contact your doctor.