Why low blood pressure can also be dangerous

We most often hear about blood pressure when it’s too high, but sometimes people experience blood pressure that dips low – called hypotension, which can cause problems too.

Chronic low blood pressure is less than 90/60 mm Hg, and usually isn’t serious unless symptoms indicate there isn’t enough oxygen getting to your organs and extremities.

“One low blood pressure reading usually isn’t anything to be worried about, and what may be low for one person might be okay for someone else,” says Dr. Garrett Westman, a family medicine physician at Aurora Health Care. “However, there are other symptoms to be aware of that can indicate an underlying problem.”

What symptoms should you watch for?

Symptoms that show low blood pressure may be serious include:

• Dizziness or lightheadedness, especially after standing up too fast
• Confusion or trouble concentrating
• Blurred or fading vision
• Heart palpitations
• Nausea or vomiting
• Fainting (also called syncope)
• Headache
• Neck or back pain
• Fatigue or weakness

It’s also important to know a sudden drop or extremely low blood pressure can be dangerous and may lead to shock. Symptoms of this include cold, clammy or discolored skin, confusion, shallow breathing, or a weak pulse. Emergency care is needed right away.

What may be causing your low blood pressure?

A wide variety of factors can cause low blood pressure, Dr. Westman says. They include:

• Dehydration
• Heart conditions like low heart rate (bradycardia), valve issues or heart failure
• Other health conditions like depression or Parkinson’s disease
• Loss of blood from internal bleeding or major trauma
• Certain medications
• Allergic reaction, severe infection or sepsis
• Deficiency in B-12, folic acid or iron, which can cause anemia
• Pregnancy

“Be sure to have regular checkups. If you’re blood pressure readings are consistently low, but you otherwise feel fine, your provider may simply monitor you,” Dr. Westman says. “But if you experience other signs of chronic low blood pressure, let your provider know right away to find the underlying cause and get treatment if needed. Keep a record of any symptoms you may have, including what you were doing when they happened.”

Want to learn more about your risk for heart disease? Take a free online quiz to learn more.