Do you have low blood pressure?

You may have read a lot about Hypertension or high blood pressure, but have you ever wondered what would happen if you have a low blood pressure. First of all lets understand your blood pressure.

Blood pressure is the force exerted by the flowing blood on the walls of the blood vessels, arteries and veins. It is generated by the heart pumping blood into the arteries. The heart pushes the blood into the arteries, and then to the body. There are two types of blood pressure;

Systolic Blood Pressure

The pressure which is produced as a result of blood being pumped into the arteries. During systole, the left ventricle contracts and the blood is filled up in the arteries.

Diastolic Blood Pressure

When the blood is being filled in the heart and is at rest, the pressure generated within is Diastolic Blood Pressure. While relaxation of the heart, the left ventricle of the heart is being filled with the blood returning from the lungs.

A healthy blood pressure is thus a measure of the normal systolic and diastolic pressure. A healthy blood pressure is thus, 120/80 mm of Hg (systolic/ diastolic).

Any elevation or reduction in these values is considered as high or low blood pressure respectively.

What is Low blood pressure?

Low blood pressure or hypotension is the blood which falls below 90/60 mm of Hg. It can be explained as that blood flow which is too low and can not deliver enough oxygen and nutrients to the body, thus hampering their normal functioning.

What can cause low blood pressure?

Any reason that may work towards lowering of blood volume and decrease in the tension of the artery walls can cause low blood pressure. It can be attributed to reasons such as bleeding, dehydration and spinal cord injuries. Low blood pressure may also be a result of side effect of medications. These are the major factors that may cause your blood pressure to go down;

• Blood pressure can be lowered due to neurological disorders as well. 
• Blood pressure may be reduced in pregnancy as part of normal physiological state.
• Bleeding
• Dehydration due to vomiting, diarrhea, infections
• Abnormalities in adrenal gland
• Blood loss due to injury
• Medications such as anti hypertensive (such as β blockers, α blockers, calcium channel blockers), diuretics, antidepressants, anti Parkinson's medicine, and erectile dysfunction medicines (Viagra).
• Alcohol use and narcotic pain medicines.

Is low blood pressure bad for your health? Keep looking for the next blog.