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I suffer from low blood pressure, which means I often feel dizzy. What causes this and what are the treatments? High blood pressure (hypertension) is a major medical concern. If untreated, it can lead to heart attacks, strokes, kidney damage and even premature death. Low blood pressure
might therefore seem desirable. However, excessively low blood pressure (hypotension) can cause various problems. We’re here for you with information and support around coronavirusOur fortnightly Heart Matters newsletter includes the latest updates about coronavirus when you have a heart condition, as well as support for healthy eating, staying active and your emotional wellbeing. I’d like to sign-upWhat is low blood pressure?Blood pressure is the pressure of blood in your arteries - the vessels that carry your blood from your heart to your brain and the rest of your body. You need a certain amount of pressure to get the blood round your body. A normal blood pressure is less than 140/90mmHg (a desirable blood pressure is around 120/80mmHg). Low blood pressure is a measurement of 90/60mmHg or lower. When your blood pressure drops, your heart rate increases and the blood vessels in other parts of the body constrict (narrow) to help maintain blood pressure. If your heart rate does not increase enough, or if your blood vessels do not constrict enough to maintain blood pressure, your blood pressure will fall. The kidneys control blood volume, so are also involved in regulating blood pressure.
Symptoms of low blood pressure (hypotension):
Causes of low blood pressure
Treatments for low blood pressureMedication for low blood pressure is rarely needed. This is because making simply lifestyle changes or treating the underlying cause is usually effective. Drinking more fluids, raising your legs and changing or altering the dose of medication you are taking are all effective ways of easily treating low blood pressure. However, if it causes issues, low blood pressure can be treated with different medicines, depending on the underlying cause.
Research into low blood pressureNot all patients respond well to these treatments or tolerate the side effects – pharmacologists and other scientists are looking for new drugs. With the help of BHF funding, my lab is studying how to use drugs to control the width of arteries and therefore blood pressure. In particular, we are looking at the tiny channels in the artery wall that allow charged ions to go in and out of the artery cells, causing small electrical impulses. Drugs acting on these channels have the potential to control the width of arteries and could offer new ways to control low and high blood pressure. Learn more about your blood pressure
Meet the expertDr Paolo Tammaro is Associate Professor in Pharmacology at the University of Oxford. His BHF-funded research is looking for potential new drugs to control blood pressure function that could help with both high and low blood pressure. More useful informationWhat causes a low pulse with high blood pressure?High blood pressure thickens the heart muscles making it difficult to conduct electrical impulses through the thick tissue. Your heart may not beat as fast when this happens, and your pulse will slow down.
When should I worry about low heart rate and high blood pressure?A person should seek immediate medical attention if they have the following symptoms along with a low pulse and high blood pressure: dizziness or lightheadedness. feeling faint or fainting. shortness of breath.
What is a dangerously low heart rate?If you have bradycardia, your heart beats fewer than 60 times a minute. Bradycardia can be a serious problem if the heart rate is very slow and the heart can't pump enough oxygen-rich blood to the body. If this happens, you may feel dizzy, very tired or weak, and short of breath.
Does low heart rate affect blood pressure?If your heart rate does not increase enough, or if your blood vessels do not constrict enough to maintain blood pressure, your blood pressure will fall.
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