What are the risks of low blood pressure?

Have you ever been told that having low blood pressure is a good thing? That it’s something to brag about at your next family gathering or workplace lunch break? Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but low blood pressure can actually be a real pain in the neck (or head, or chest…you get the picture). In this article, we’ll explore some of the downsides of having abnormally low blood pressure and what you can do to combat them.

What Is Low Blood Pressure?

Before we dive into the risks associated with low blood pressure (also known as hypotension) let’s first establish what exactly qualifies as “low.” Typically, a reading of less than 90/60 mmHg is considered hypotensive. However, it’s important to note that everyone’s body is different and for some people those numbers may not necessarily indicate an issue.

How Do I Know If I Have Low Blood Pressure?

Some common symptoms that might indicate you have hypotension are:

  • Dizziness
  • Lightheadedness
  • Fainting spells
  • Chest pain
  • Shortness of breath

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms on a regular basis (or even just occasionally) it would be worth checking in with your healthcare provider.

The Risks Associated With Hypotension

Now onto the more unpleasant part. Here are just some potential negative outcomes associated with low blood pressure:

Cardiovascular Problems

One significant risk factor for people who suffer from chronically low blood pressure is cardiovascular problems such as heart disease or angina(I don’t mean anxiety-induced chest pains here,Ahem! ). When your heart pumps against little resistance because there isn’t enough fluid in your arteries due to continuously lowered BP levels, over time it can cause damage resulting in further complications.

Kidney Failure

Your kidneys are responsible for filtering waste products from your blood, a task that requires adequate blood flow through those organs. Hypotension can lead to inadequate renal perfusion – in other words, the filters in the kidneys aren’t getting enough of what they need to function properly resulting in kidney failure.

Complications During Pregnancy

Low blood pressure is common during pregnancy and usually isn’t cause for concern. However, if you experience an unsafe drop it could lead to decreased oxygen and nutrient supply to your baby. You might also be at risk of preterm labour or low birth weight deliveries as a result.

Falling Accidents

You read that right-(well sort off), falls occur frequently among people with hypotension because lightheadedness caused by BP symptoms inhibit their balance skills which overtime leads to a ton of avoidable accidents. So before you decide jumping up like Tom Cruise on Oprah’s couch after successfully doing squats till infinity based on his advice during an interview about Mission Impossible III: Please think again!

Things That Exacerbate Low Blood Pressure

The good news is- there are things that exacerbate low blood pressure-a few examples include:

Dehydration

This one makes sense – being dehydrated means less fluid circulating through your bloodstream which automatically results in suddenly lowered bp stats-

So next time you’re feeling faint chug some h2o instead (unless hanging out like a sloth counts as exercise).

Anemia

Nope-I didn’t just name-drop Adele’s classic track but bear with me here (summoning my inner blogger) -People who struggle with anaemia might encounter worsening hypotension episodes because red blood cells play an instrumental role when transporting O2 throughout the body . Iron-rich meals like spinach or chicken liver may do wonders against this menace.(Well,you heard it hear first-folks!)

Extended Bed Rest

Laying down for long periods of time leads to a drop in blood pressure because there isn’t much activity or movement stimulating your body to circulate blood effectively. This is the reason why hospitalized patients shift positions frequently while wearing those lovely compression socks!

Some Medications

Certain over-the-counter medications, even natural remedies like St. John’s Wort, can cause hypotension as a side effect.
If you’re on any type of medication – prescription OR non-prescription- please consult with your doctor before starting it so the balance between recovery & bp level can be weighed properly.

What To Do About Low Blood Pressure Risks

So if you experience low but consistently uncomfortable BP levels what exactly do you need to do? Here are a few tips:

Drink More Water!

Water sound too bland then try out water blends-infused water rich in Vitamin C like orange-lemon-lime concoctions,herbs like basil or mint may all add extra zest along with hydration during rough patches (please don’t be carried away-wine would not work unless its an ultra diluted edition,I digress)

Extra Salt Intake

This might sound counter-intuitive, especially since we’ve always been told that salt is the bad guy when it comes maintaining healthy blood pressure (which by the way-it is!). However, consuming small amounts of sodium through eating salty foods (or adding table salt) has been known for having instantaneous increase yet temporary bump up to BP rates-to throw off people from sensitive or chronically low-lowly..(lowly just screams self-pity,right?)readjusted averages .

Be Proactive With Your Doctor

Don’t wait until things have gone dramatically wrong ; instead stay ahead & closely monitor any symptoms related directly/indirectly towards hypotensive moments . It will keep your condition under check and adopted treatments more streamlined in comparison rather than boarding the express train of anxiety when things get out-of-hand.

Conclusion

Low blood pressure is no walk in-the-park .But with these preventative measures it can help you avoid some negative outcomes which may ensue because of chronic hypotension
( don’t fret just yet -in any case,you ARE aware about them now but only panic when it asks to fill up a personality test next time at office or social gathering)

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