Low blood pressure, medically known as hypotension, occurs when the blood pressure reading falls below approximately 90/60 mm Hg, meaning the heart isn’t pushing enough blood through the body to sustain normal functions. While a low reading alone isn’t always alarming, it becomes a concern when it causes symptoms like dizziness or fainting. Indeed, studies show that certain types of hypotension can affect up to 30% of older adults when standing up from a seated position.
Recognising the condition is the first step toward effective care. At the Arboretum emergency room, our emergency care team is prepared to treat patients whose low blood pressure rapidly drops or leads to complications. Rapid diagnosis and treatment can prevent organ damage, falls, or life-threatening shock.
What Is Low Blood Pressure?
Low blood pressure, or hypotension, happens when your blood pressure readings consistently fall below the normal range, typically 90/60 mm Hg. This means your heart, brain, and other organs may not receive enough blood and oxygen to function properly. Unlike high blood pressure, which develops silently over time, low blood pressure can cause immediate symptoms such as dizziness, blurred vision, fatigue, or even fainting.
There are several types of hypotension, including orthostatic (postural) hypotension, which occurs when you stand up too quickly, and severe hypotension, which can result from infections, dehydration, or internal bleeding.
Causes of Low Blood Pressure
Low blood pressure can develop due to various lifestyle habits, underlying health issues, or sudden changes in body function. Understanding these triggers early can help you manage symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, and fainting more effectively.
1. Dehydration
When your body loses more fluids than it replaces, your blood volume drops, reducing the pressure needed to circulate blood efficiently. Even mild dehydration from sweating, diarrhea, or overexertion can make you feel dizzy and weak. Severe cases can lead to hypovolemic shock, a life-threatening condition where blood flow to vital organs becomes dangerously low. Drinking plenty of water and electrolyte-rich fluids can help restore balance.
2. Heart Problems
Conditions like bradycardia, heart valve defects, or heart failure make it difficult for your heart to pump blood efficiently, resulting in lower blood pressure. This may cause symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, or even fainting spells. Over time, untreated heart issues can reduce oxygen supply to major organs. Early medical evaluation is essential for proper treatment and long-term heart health.
3. Endocrine Disorders
Your hormones play a major role in blood pressure regulation. Disorders like Addison’s disease, low thyroid hormone levels (hypothyroidism), or hypoglycemia can interfere with this balance. These imbalances cause your body to produce less of the hormones that help control salt, water, and blood vessel tension, leading to hypotension. Managing your hormones through medical guidance can stabilize your blood pressure effectively.
4. Blood Loss or Severe Infection
Heavy bleeding from an injury, surgery, or internal organ damage can cause a sudden and serious drop in blood pressure. Likewise, septic shock, when a severe infection spreads into your bloodstream, can make blood vessels widen and pressure plummet rapidly. Both cases are medical emergencies that require immediate care to prevent organ failure or life-threatening complications.
5. Nutrient Deficiency
A lack of essential nutrients such as iron, vitamin B12, and folate can cause anemia, reducing the oxygen-carrying capacity of your blood. As a result, your heart must work harder to deliver oxygen, lowering your blood pressure and causing tiredness or pale skin. Eating a nutrient-rich diet or taking supplements prescribed by your doctor can help maintain healthy levels and prevent hypotension.
6. Medications
Certain medications used to treat heart disease, depression, or high blood pressure can unintentionally lower your blood pressure too much. For instance, diuretics reduce excess fluid but can also lower blood volume, while beta-blockers slow heart rate. It’s important not to stop or change your medication on your own — consult your doctor to adjust doses safely.
7. Sudden Position Changes
Standing up too quickly after sitting or lying down can cause your blood to pool in your legs instead of circulating properly, leading to orthostatic hypotension. This causes brief dizziness, blurred vision, or even fainting. It’s more common in the elderly, those who are dehydrated, or people taking certain medications. Moving slowly and staying hydrated can help prevent these sudden drops.
Low Blood Pressure Symptoms
Knowing common low blood pressure symptoms helps you spot problems early and get the right care. Symptoms can be mild and intermittent or sudden and severe, depending on the cause and how low the pressure falls.
Dizziness or lightheadedness:
This is one of the earliest and most frequent signs of low blood pressure. It often occurs when you stand up quickly after sitting or lying down, a condition known as orthostatic hypotension. You might feel the room spinning or experience temporary vision dimming. Staying hydrated and rising slowly can help minimize these dizzy spells.
Fainting (syncope):
When the blood flow to your brain drops sharply, it can cause fainting or a brief loss of consciousness. Low blood pressure fainting can be triggered by standing too long, stress, or dehydration. It’s essential to sit or lie down immediately to avoid falling injuries. Recurrent fainting spells should always be medically investigated to rule out underlying heart or nervous system problems.
Blurred vision or tunnel vision:
Low blood pressure can reduce oxygen delivery to the eyes, leading to blurred or tunnel vision. You may find it difficult to focus on objects, and colors might appear faded. These vision changes can come and go quickly but may signal poor circulation. If vision loss occurs frequently, it’s important to seek medical evaluation to prevent long-term eye strain or accidents.
Fatigue and weakness:
Feeling tired or weak for no clear reason may indicate that your organs and muscles aren’t getting enough oxygen-rich blood. Low blood pressure slows nutrient delivery, which can make even daily activities feel exhausting. Over time, this can affect mood, focus, and overall productivity. Adequate sleep, proper hydration, and a nutrient-rich diet can help manage this symptom.
Nausea or cold, clammy skin:
A sudden drop in blood pressure can make you feel nauseous, sweaty, and pale. The body tries to redirect blood from the skin to vital organs, leading to cold or clammy skin. This can occur during dehydration, infection, or shock. If nausea is persistent or paired with dizziness, it’s a sign that your body isn’t maintaining healthy circulation and needs urgent attention.
Rapid, shallow breathing or shortness of breath:
When your blood pressure falls, your heart and lungs work harder to compensate. You may start breathing faster without realizing it, or feel like you can’t take a deep breath. This shortness of breath can become worse with movement or standing. It’s a warning that your cardiovascular system is struggling to supply oxygen, and a medical evaluation is necessary.
Confusion or difficulty concentrating:
In older adults, especially, low blood pressure symptoms can appear as brain fog, confusion, or poor concentration. The brain relies heavily on a constant flow of oxygen, and reduced supply can slow reaction times and impair memory. If you notice sudden disorientation or mental fatigue, it’s important to check your blood pressure levels and seek emergency care if symptoms worsen.
When symptoms are an emergency:
If low blood pressure symptoms include chest pain, sudden severe weakness, fainting with injury, severe shortness of breath, or confusion, treat this as an emergency and seek immediate medical care. These signs may indicate shock, major bleeding, or a life-threatening condition.
Treatments for Low Blood Pressure
Treating low blood pressure depends on the underlying cause, but the goal remains the same: to restore healthy circulation and prevent dizziness, fainting, or fatigue. Whether your hypotension is mild or severe, making simple lifestyle changes and seeking timely care can help bring your blood pressure back to a safe level.
1. Lifestyle Modifications
Small but consistent lifestyle changes can naturally stabilize blood pressure and boost your overall energy levels.
Stay hydrated:
Drinking plenty of fluids, especially water and electrolyte drinks, helps maintain adequate blood volume. Dehydration is one of the most common and easily reversible causes of low blood pressure.
Eat balanced meals:
Include foods rich in vitamin B12, folate, and iron to prevent anemia-related hypotension. Eating smaller, more frequent meals instead of large, heavy ones can also prevent sudden drops in blood pressure after eating (known as postprandial hypotension).
Increase salt intake (with doctor’s advice):
In some cases, doctors recommend slightly increasing salt to help raise blood pressure, as sodium helps retain water and boost blood volume. However, this should only be done under medical supervision to avoid strain on the heart.
Avoid standing up suddenly:
If you feel dizzy when standing, rise slowly from sitting or lying positions. This allows your body time to adjust and maintain blood flow to your brain.
2. Medical Treatments
When lifestyle changes aren’t enough, medical treatment for low blood pressure may be necessary.
Medication adjustment:
If your current medications, such as diuretics or beta-blockers, are causing hypotension, your doctor may reduce the dose or switch to alternatives. Never stop taking prescribed medicine without guidance.
Compression stockings:
Wearing compression stockings can help improve blood flow from the legs back to the heart, preventing blood from pooling and reducing dizziness.
Fludrocortisone or midodrine:
In chronic hypotension cases, doctors may prescribe medications like fludrocortisone to increase blood volume or midodrine to tighten blood vessels and raise blood pressure safely.
3. Emergency Care for Hypotension
Sometimes, low blood pressure can drop to a dangerous level, especially due to severe bleeding, infection, or dehydration.
In such cases, emergency care is critical to stabilize the patient quickly.
Medical professionals may administer IV fluids, electrolytes, or medications to raise blood pressure. Immediate attention ensures that vital organs such as the brain, heart, and kidneys receive enough blood flow to prevent long-term damage.
Get Fast Relief
Low blood pressure may seem harmless at first, but if it causes fainting, confusion, or chest pain, it could be a sign of something serious. Austin Emergency Center provides advanced medical care to diagnose and treat sudden drops in blood pressure, ensuring your safety and comfort at every step.
At Austin Emergency Care, our expert emergency physicians are fully equipped to manage all types of low blood pressure, from mild dehydration to severe shock. We provide rapid diagnostic testing and IV hydration.