For healthy adults, a normal blood pressure reading is considered to be between the range of 120/80 mm Hg, and 130/85 mm Hg, with 120 over 80 being ideal. However, each person's individual blood pressure is often a bit higher or lower than average, and is therefore considered normal for them. When blood pressure levels drop from any given person's normal level, it is known as low blood pressure.
Also known as hypotension, low blood pressure causes symptoms that include:
- Blurred Vision
- Dizziness
- Light Headedness
- Fainting
- Confusion
- Sleepiness
- Weakness
There are three main types of low blood pressure: Orthostatic hypotension, neurally mediated hypotension, and severe hypotension.
Severe hypotension low blood pressure is generally brought on by a sudden loss of blood, while orthostatic hypotension is brought on by sudden changes in body position, such as when you go from lying down to standing up very quickly. Neural mediated hypotension, or NMH, occurs most often in children and young adults, and happens when they have been standing for long periods of time.
In addition to these three conditions, low blood pressure can be caused by certain prescription medications, alcohol, diuretics, and over-the-counter drugs. Low blood pressure can also be a symptom of other medical conditions including diabetes, anaphylaxis, and heart arrhythmias.
Low blood pressure also frequently accompanies many types of medical emergencies, including heart attacks, shock, fainting, severe trauma, and dehydration.
If you are suffering from symptoms that suggest low blood pressure, you'll want to visit a doctor as soon as possible. In order to help him or her determine what is causing your symptoms, you'll want to know what medications you are on, if you have a family history of low blood pressure, if you've had low blood pressure in the past, and what your normal blood pressure level is.
As mentioned above, blood pressure levels of healthy adults fall into a range. However, each person's normal blood pressure level is slightly different, with some people being a bit higher or a bit lower than "normal." So, in order to help your doctor identify if your symptoms are really those of low blood pressure, it's important to know what level of blood pressure is normal for you.
Low blood pressure is easy to treat and manage, but can also cause serious complications if not properly treated.
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