What Causes Low Blood Pressure

What is low blood pressure

Another name for low blood pressure is hypotension. It means that the blood circulating in the body has very weak pressure and is lower than it should be, though this is only a problem if you are experiencing the negative effects of low blood pressure.

How do you know if you have low blood pressure

The negative effects of low blood pressure can be noticed through symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, weakness, feeling light headed, fainting, feeling weak or fatigued, or experiencing blurred vision. Some of these effects can adversely affect vital organs in the body, such as the brain being deprived of crucial nutrients and oxygen.

What are some causes of low blood pressure

Low blood pressure causes may include:

Mental stress: If you are under constant emotional stress, feeling insecure or are in pain, this may have contributed to your hypotension condition.
Blood loss: Hypotension can happen from a constantly bleeding stomach ulcer or stomach perforation, giving birth, or a significant loss of blood from a wound.
Infection: Toxic Shock Syndrome and other similar conditions can result in low blood pressure.
Blood donation: Low blood pressure can also happen if you donate blood and are already feeling weak or hungry. Blood donor clinics are quite thorough in their investigation of your health before you donate blood and they will offer you a place to sit and some juice or a snack to help your blood pressure stabilize properly once again. If you still find that your blood pressure is affecting you, perhaps you should reconsider your donations or speak to a blood donor specialist about how what happens to your health after you donate.
Medication: Depression medication and medicine for various existing heart conditions may be another factor for low blood pressure.
Addison's disease: If your adrenal glands are not producing enough hormones that maintain your blood pressure, than you may also suffer from hypotension.
Orthostatic hypotension: This usually happens when you have prolonged periods of lying down or sitting for a period of time, dehydration or a heart arrhythmia. When you try to stand up, your blood vessels may respond to the gravity force by constricting rather than pumping blood freely. This difficulty to adjust to standing causes your blood pressure to fall and can result in low blood pressure and a giddy, light-headed feeling.
Other illnesses: Parkinson's disease and other nervous system disorders is another contributing factor for low blood pressure.
Dehydration: Your body is made of a large percent of water. It needs sufficient water or liquid to survive. A lack of liquid intake can result in dehydration, reduced blood volume and a lowering of the blood pressure.

If you are suffering from any of these conditions and you feel you may have hypotension or low blood pressure, it is best to consult your doctor. They will run tests to confirm or rule out the possibility and will help keep you as healthy as you can be.