what are the causes of low blood pressure?

Answer 1

Factors that can contribute to low blood pressure:
Pregnancy. During the first 24 weeks of pregnancy, it's common for blood pressure to drop.
Medications. A number of drugs can cause low blood pressure, including diuretics and other drugs that treat hypertension; heart medications such as beta blockers; drugs for Parkinson's disease; tricyclic antidepressants; Viagra®, particularly in combination with nitroglycerine; narcotics and alcohol. Other prescription and over-the-counter medications may cause low blood pressure when taken in combination with high blood pressure drugs.
Heart problems. Among the heart conditions that can lead to low blood pressure are an abnormally low heart rate (bradycardia), problems with heart valves, heart attack and heart failure. These are conditions in which your heart may not be able to circulate enough blood to meet your body's needs.
Endocrine problems. These include an underactive or overactive thyroid (hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism), adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease), low blood sugar and, in some cases, diabetes.
Dehydration. Fever, vomiting, severe diarrhea, overuse of diuretics and strenuous exercise can all lead to dehydration, a potentially serious condition in which your body loses more water than you take in. Even mild dehydration, a loss of as little as 1 percent to 2 percent of body weight, can cause weakness, dizziness and fatigue.
Blood loss. A significant loss of blood from major trauma or severe internal bleeding reduces blood volume, leading to a severe drop in blood pressure.
Severe infection (septic shock). Septic shock can occur when bacteria leave the original site of an infection — most often in the lungs, abdomen or urinary tract — and enter the bloodstream. The bacteria then produce toxins that affect your blood vessels, leading to a profound and life-threatening decline in blood pressure.
Allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). Anaphylactic shock is a sometimes-fatal allergic reaction that can occur in people who are highly sensitive to drugs such as penicillin, to certain foods such as peanuts, or to bee or wasp stings. This type of shock is characterized by breathing problems, hives, itching, a swollen throat and a sudden, dramatic fall in blood pressure.
Postural (orthostatic) hypotension. In some people, blood pressure drops rapidly when standing from a sitting or prone position, causing dizziness, lightheadedness, blurred vision and even fainting. Causes can include dehydration, prolonged bed rest, diabetes, heart problems and excessive heat. Medications like diuretics, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, antipsychotics, antidepressants and drugs for Parkinson’s disease can also cause this condition. In some cases, sitting for long periods of time with legs crossed or squatting can be the cause.
Postprandial hypotension. A sudden drop in blood pressure after a meal usually affects older adults with high blood pressure or autonomic nervous system disorders such as Parkinson’s disease. Lowering the dose of blood-pressure-lowering medication and eating small, low-carbohydrate meals may help reduce symptoms.
Neurally mediated hypotension. Unlike orthostatic hypotension, this disorder causes blood pressure to drop after standing for long periods, leading to symptoms such as dizziness, nausea and fainting. This condition primarily affects young people and occurs because of a miscommunication between the heart and the brain.
Nutritional deficiencies. A lack of the essential vitamins B-12 and folic acid can cause anemia, which in turn can lead to low blood pressure.

When to see the doctor
If you experience any dizziness or lightheadedness, you may want to see your doctor. If you have gotten dehydrated, have low blood sugar or spent too much time in the sun or a hot tub, it's more important how quickly your blood pressure drops than how low it drops. Keep a record of your symptoms and your activities at the time your symptoms occurred.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

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Answer 4

3 years ago, I was diagnosed - hypertension with a reading of 160/100. I used to feel dizzy a lot, my legs had awful cramps, and levels were very low in my potassium, causing my fingers and toes to always cramp together. One day I started to feel really faint while I was driving with my daughter in the back seat and I passed out, hitting 3 cars and ending up in a ditch. That moment,I knew I had to do something because my meds weren't working. I heard about this diet from a friend and thought I'd give it a shot. The results have been remarkable. In just 21 days, I honestly can't remember feeling this good, my blood pressure went from 175/110 to 125/70.

Answer 5

Low blood pressure causes Faulty nutrition, Malnutrition The most important cause of low blood pressure is faulty nutrition. It makes the tissues forming the walls of the blood vessels over-relaxed, and flabby or streched. This results in less supply of oxygen and nutrients to the tissues. Malnutrition can result from a diet deficient in calories, proteins, vitamin C, or almost any one of the B vitamins. Loss of blood, slow internal bleeding Sometimes the blood pressure falls rapidly because of loss of blood. Low blood pressure may also develop gradually because of slow bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, or bladder. Emotional instability Emotional problems are a far more frequent cause of low blood pressure. To a lesser degree, prolonged disappointment and frustration may result in a subnormal blood pressure.

Answer 6

Hypotension (bp < 90/60) may accompany old age. But low bp >90/60 is not uncommon among very fit athletes, and is a sign of good cardiovascular health. Some people seem to be blessed by low bp and it's not normally a cause for concern, unless they black out or remain dizzy for long spells (e.g. when getting up). Other causes:
- Pregnancy.
- Hormonal problems such as an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), diabetes, and low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
- Many over-the-counter medications.
- Overdose of high blood pressure drugs.
- Heart failure.
- Heart arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms)
- Loss of blood (bleeding).
- Low body temperature.
- High body temperature.
- Heart muscle disease causing heart failure.
- Sepsis, a severe blood infection.
- Severe dehydration.
- A reaction to medication.
- Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).
- Widening, or dilation, of the blood vessels.
- Heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
- Liver disease.

Answer 7

Low blood pressure isn't treated as seriously as high in UK. There could be a multitude of causes, but good news - people with low blood pressure live longer than those with high. As typed to you by some one suffering hypertension and on medication for life.

Awwww...............

Answer 8

Factors that can contribute to low blood pressure include: Medications, Heart problems, Endocrine problems, Dehydration, Blood loss, Severe infection (septic shock), Allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), Postural (orthostatic) hypotension, Postprandial hypotension, Neurally mediated hypotension, Nutritional deficiencies

Answer 9

there are several factors that can cause low blood pressure and these are: Dehydration, Moderate - severe bleeding. Severe inflammation of internal organs. Weakened heart muscle. Inflamed Pericardium (muscle surrounding the heart) Pulmonary Embolism (blood clot) Slow heart rate (Bradycardia) Some medications.

Answer 10

Low blood pressure (Hypotension) has several possible causes. Be careful of the answers you get here. Most provide good but incomplete information, and some are "way out there" when it comes to your health. That's why I try to provide links to trusted web sites. I found some sites with lots of information. Please see the links below.

Terry

Answer 11

Underactive thyroid gland possibly. My mother has low blood pressure due the anit-seizure medication she takes. I get very low blood pressure when I'm i'll - nearly corpse readings! Doctors have checked it multiple times to make sure the reading is accurate.