Few people think about the danger of low blood pressure in humans. Moreover, in modern society there is often an erroneous opinion that the antagonist of hypotension - arterial hypertension - really threatens health. The development of heart failure, impaired cerebral circulation - the list of negative effects of hypertension can be continued indefinitely. However, this does not mean at all that low blood pressure does not pose a threat to the patient's life.
What determines the level of blood pressure?
Blood, moving through the vessels, exerts pressure on their walls. The presence or absence of a generally accepted normal blood pressure indicator (120/80) is determined by several factors:
- degree of vascular resistance;
- cardiac functionality;
- total blood volume.
Despite the fact that many do not consider deviations from standard values to a smaller side to be a pathology at all, since all systems and organs work as expected, which is dangerous for low blood pressure in humans, doctors have known for a long time.
What does blood pressure mean?
In addition to the external manifestations of this condition in the form of general weakness of the body, shortness of breath, dizziness and loss of coordination, hypotension can cause more serious consequences. The first alarm signals received by the patient must necessarily serve as a reason for seeking advice from specialists. In addition, if the danger of low pressure receded, which quite often lulls the vigilance of patients, this does not mean that a repeat is not expected.
In itself, blood pressure is an indicator that can report violations in the functioning of such vital organs as the lungs, heart, and circulatory system. This determines the need for regular pressure measurements, especially since its value is not static and constant. Find out the danger of low blood pressure in a person by looking at the features of blood circulation.
Systolic and diastolic pressure in humans
As you know, when measuring a patient’s pressure, doctors draw conclusions about his condition in two ways:
- Systolic pressure is the highest indicator showing the level of pressure during the discharge of blood into the aorta.
- Diastolic pressure - the lowest indicator, captures the moment of blood flow into the vena cava.
If the first criterion is able to determine the blood pressure during its transportation through vessels from the heart to other vital organs, then the second testifies to its value in the intervals between heart contractions. At the moment of short-term myocardial relaxation, blood pressure is measured.
What pressure is considered normal?
Probably everyone knows that 120/80 is the most familiar indicator, which is considered the absolute norm. Although recently, experts have more confidently argued that the most comfortable blood pressure for a person is 115/75.
To determine which critical low pressure is dangerous for a person is difficult, as well as to determine the norm for the same person. The fact is that blood pressure at which the patient's well-being is satisfactory is a purely individual value. It is almost impossible to establish with accuracy that this particular indicator is optimal for a particular person.
What is characterized by low pressure?
Meanwhile, doctors around the world consider BP 90/60 to be unambiguously lower. Whether low pressure is dangerous for a person with such indicators depends largely on how he feels at that moment, what the symptoms are.
The most common manifestations of hypotension, in which the thought of pathology immediately arises, are considered:
- Regular drowsiness, lethargy, rapid fatigue. Any activity (physical, mental) leads to instant fatigue, after rest and a night's sleep, relief, as a rule, does not occur.
- Headaches (cephalgia with low blood pressure often occupies the occipital and temporal lobes; the nature and intensity of the pain syndrome is similar to migraine: monotonous, throbbing or dull).
- Nausea, vomiting.
- Frequent dizziness, short-term loss of consciousness, impaired coordination of movements.
- Irritability, carelessness, distraction.
Is low blood pressure dangerous in humans? This can be determined based on the above symptoms. Such signs of hypotension can cause great discomfort and suffering to the patient. How to avoid this? You can prevent the development of pathology, especially if you are not at risk. But even if it is not, helping yourself is still possible. The reasons why a systolic or diastolic blood count may drop are presented below.
Causes of Low Diastolic Pressure
With reduced diastolic pressure, common signs of hypotension appear in the form of impotence, dizziness and nausea. An ideal indicator is considered to be one that is less than systolic by 30-40 mm RT. Art. This implies the establishment of the common norm 120/80 with a difference of 40 mm RT. Art. The diastolic value is considered low if there is a discrepancy of more than 50 units between it and the systolic indicator.
Many patients do not immediately detect low blood pressure, regularly suffering from symptoms of weakness. Even fewer people, having discovered a disease in themselves, go to the doctor with this problem, because not everyone knows about the danger of low lower blood pressure in a person, especially if such a deviation does not cause significant trouble and inconvenience. The well-being of a person with low lower pressure depends on the causative factors that provoked changes in blood circulation. The most common are:
- heart failure;
- renal failure or chronic adrenal disease;
- allergic reactions;
- pain shock;
- disorders of the thyroid gland.
How to prevent hypotension?
Of particular note is the low lower pressure, the reasons for which are indicated above. How to increase diastolic rate, everyone should know. In the end, such knowledge may one day be useful to someone else.
Compliance with the rules of a healthy lifestyle, as well as sufficient pastime in the fresh air and moderate physical activity are the main secret to normalizing diastolic blood pressure. Regular and full night sleep for 7-8 hours is undoubtedly also an important guarantee of excellent well-being. But taking medications with low diastolic pressure is a serious step, which is best done together with the attending physician.
What threatens low diastolic pressure?
What is the danger of low diastolic pressure in a person, if his indicator is able to drop even to the level of 40 mm RT. Art., interesting to all patients with hypotension. Feeling unwell is not all. The fact is that lowered blood pressure does not allow delivering the necessary amount of blood to the heart and brain, and with it oxygen. Hypoxia of these vital organs is the main threat posed by low pressure in the blood vessels. A complication such as a violation of peripheral circulation and cardiogenic shock is a direct consequence of oxygen starvation.
Fainting and stroke also have a huge likelihood of developing with critical indicators of lower (diastolic) pressure. In addition, a cardinal restructuring of the arterial structure due to the prolonged course of hypotension ultimately leads to the transition of the disease into a more dangerous form of cardiovascular disease - hypertension. In this form, the disease is much harder.
Causes of Low Systolic Pressure
Diastolic indicators below normal indicate a possible development of serious pathological processes, primarily from the cardiovascular system. Meanwhile, low upper blood pressure is often associated with other causes, including:
- tachycardia, arrhythmia, bradycardia (cardiac arrhythmias);
- pathological features of the functioning of the heart valve;
- diabetes;
- first trimester of pregnancy;
- excessive physical activity.
The systolic indicator gives detailed information about the intensity with which the heart “pump” pushes blood. Within the norm, its value is about 110-120 mm RT. Art. One can understand what low pressure is dangerous for a person and how great the threat is by critical indicators of both diastolic and systolic indicators. With extremely low blood pressure, the patient often loses consciousness. With systolic 60 mm RT. Art. gradually loses touch with reality, becomes cloudy in the eyes, legs become “cottony”. It’s important to get someone to help you when you can.
To help the patient, it is necessary to lay him in such a horizontal position so that his legs are above head level.
Threat of low systolic pressure
The lowest pressure in a person is considered critical when his upper values are in the range of 40-60 mm. Hg. Art. The patient is already unconscious, and if such pressure remains for 7-8 minutes or more, then a person can leave this world. The heart rate also drops to a minimum and can be 45-60 beats per minute. An emergency ambulance call and the arrival of a team of doctors will provide the patient with a chance of recovery. However, the consequences of his condition may leave an indelible mark in life until the end of days.
Danger to a pregnant woman
The danger of low pressure in systolic values is also present during pregnancy. This is due to hormonal changes in the body. A permissible decrease in the upper indicators is considered to be a decrease to 10 mm Hg. Art., and lower - up to 15 units. Blood pressure in pregnant women reaches its minimum at 22-24 weeks.
Such a decrease is not considered dangerous either to the fetus or to the expectant mother. Meanwhile, faints are a common symptom of hypotension in pregnant women . Loss of consciousness often leads to falls, which is a potential threat to the baby. Dehydration, which is often diagnosed in pregnant women, can also provoke a decrease in blood pressure.
Classification of Hypotension
Low blood pressure is divided into several types:
- Orthostatic lowering of blood pressure. Most often occurs with a sharp change in body position (with a sharp rise), when the flow of blood to the limbs increases, but the heartbeat does not increase. It is characterized by concomitant attacks of dizziness, loss of coordination, in rare cases, even consciousness. This type of hypotension is often found in pregnant women, despite the fact that the elderly are considered the main risk group for the onset of the disease.
- Postprandial hypotension manifests itself in patients of the older age group after eating.
- Vegetovascular dystonia is the most common type of hypotonic disease. Such a decrease in pressure is observed in patients with hot weather conditions, with overwork, stress, etc. The disease is often found in young people.
Today, everyone should know the danger of low blood pressure in humans. With a rapid heartbeat and pulse, it is difficult to pump blood through the vessels to the heart, which means that the flow of oxygen to the limbs and organs becomes insufficient. To normalize the pressure, you need to take a contrast shower and carefully massage the body with a special massage brush. You can’t get carried away with such a famous low-pressure drug as coffee or chocolate: for a one-time relief this is an excellent solution, but if the decrease in arterial parameters has become regular, you should definitely consult a doctor.
How to normalize low blood pressure?
The specialist will be able to confirm or exclude the diagnosis, prescribe, if necessary, appropriate medications and monitor the patient's condition. Self-medication can be life threatening.