Low blood pressure — anything under 90/60 — is common in a lot of people, and rarely raises alarm bells. Most people are taught that high blood pressure (hypertension) is dangerous and low blood pressure (hypotension) is good because it’s keeping you away from the risky end of the spectrum.
For the most part, this is true. High blood pressure can cause far more problems than another blood pressure, and slightly low blood pressure might even be healthy.
Like all things, however, balance is required, and blood pressure shouldn’t be allowed to get too low since that can come with its own set of issues.
So you’ve heard about what you need to watch out for when it comes to high blood pressure. What are the signs it’s actually too low instead?
1. Feeling Light-Headed or Dizzy
For many people, the first of the low pressure symptoms is feeling light-headed or dizzy. This may come randomly, or it may come when standing up suddenly.
Although light-headedness can be caused by many things, this is one of the most common, so it’s time to get it checked out if you’re experiencing this often.
Feeling dizzy often isn’t a big issue and it may just be that low blood pressure has been caused by slight dehydration, but it’s still worth looking into.
2. Nausea
Nausea is another common symptom that’s hard to relate to low blood pressure. After all, most people experience nausea now and again, and most of the time, it isn’t a huge deal at all.
It’s important to check it out if you are experiencing this a lot though. Because low blood pressure can be a symptom of heart disease, the correlation between low blood pressure and heart attack potential is one reason it’s essential to be aware of every possible symptom.
Perhaps your nausea is nothing at all, but it’s always better to check — especially if it comes with other symptoms of hypotension.
3. Lack of Concentration
If you’re struggling to concentrate, it may not just be an off-day. Check if this is happening over a period of time and not getting any better, because a lack of concentration is another big sign of such blood pressure.
Although a lack of concentration, much like the other symptoms, could be caused by any number of things, examine it in conjunction with everything else to determine if it could be caused by low blood pressure.
When in doubt, always see a medical professional.
4. Sudden Fatigue
Sudden fatigue can be another symptom, whether it comes on in seconds or you’re just generally more tired than usual. Are you getting the same amount of sleep, but struggling to stay awake during the day? Or are you just going to bed earlier and sleeping in later?
Fatigue can be a difficult symptom to deal with as it can interrupt everyday life, so it’s important to get this looked into.
5. Blurry Vision
Blurry vision can be another sign of low pressure. Most people’s vision degrades as they get older, so it’s an easy symptom to ignore.
Sometimes, however, it’s not just a case of you needing corrective lenses. If you’re noticing your vision blur in addition to feeling dizzy and tired, it might be time to see a doctor or check your blood pressure with a home monitor to get an idea of where it’s at.
6. Dehydration
What causes low blood pressure? It’s a common question, and it actually ties in with one of the symptoms.
Dehydration can cause blood pressure and, in turn, can be a sign of it. If you’re feeling dehydrated then it’s time to get some fluids in you and raise your blood pressure.
7. Cold, Clammy Hands
Pale, cold, clammy skin — especially on the hands — can commonly accompany low blood pressure. If you’ve noticed this and you’re not especially prone to it, it could be down to a sudden drop in pressure.
8. Breathing Very Fast
If your blood pressure drops, you may notice that your rate of breathing increases.
If you’ve noticed some signs of low blood pressure within yourself, take a minute to sit and listen to your own breathing. It may give you a better indication of what’s going on than you might have expected.
9. Being Confused
Not only might you be breathing fast and having trouble concentrating, but you might also feel confused. If you feel like you might be experiencing this, drink more water, be careful to stand up with care, and avoid alcohol and caffeine for a while to see if this improves.
10. Fainting
If your low blood pressure becomes chronic, it can even cause you to faint.
This is the ultimate sign you need to see a medical professional. Although you may not think of low blood pressure sign as particularly dangerous and may instead choose to focus on high blood pressure being the killer, there are so many issues that can come with it being low.
Many people with low blood pressure never notice a single symptom, certainly, but don’t be the person who’s caught out.
It’s Important to Check Out Even Low Blood Pressure
What is dangerously low pressure? Usually, even low blood pressure in itself isn’t dangerous, but if it’s below 90/60 and you’re suffering from symptoms, it’s time to do something about it — just in case. It can be a sign of something more serious.
If you are in any doubt or have been experiencing some symptoms, you can see a doctor or buy a kit and monitor your blood pressure at home.
For more healthcare advice, check out the rest of our blog!
