Postural hypotension is considered a failure of the cardiovascular system or nervous system to react appropriately to sudden changes. Normally, when you stand up, some blood pools in your lower extremities. Uncorrected, this would cause your blood pressure to fall. But your body normally compensates by sending messages to your heart to beat faster and to your blood vessels to constrict. This offsets the drop in blood pressure. If this does not happen, or happens too slowly, postural hypotension results and can lead to fainting. Show
The risk of both low and high blood pressure normally increases with age due in part to normal changes during aging. In addition, blood flow to the heart muscle and the brain declines with age, often as a result of plaque buildup in blood vessels. An estimated 10% to 20% of people over age 65 have postural hypotension.
The cause of low blood pressure isn't always clear. It may be associated with the following: What Causes a Sudden Drop in Blood Pressure? Sudden drops in blood pressure can be life-threatening. Causes of this type of hypotension include: Who Gets Postural Hypotension? Postural hypotension, which is low blood pressure when standing up suddenly, can happen to anyone for a variety of reasons, such as dehydration, lack of food, or being overly fatigued. It can also be influenced by genetic make-up, aging, medication, dietary and psychological factors, and acute triggers, such as infection and allergy. Postural hypotension occurs most frequently in people who are taking drugs to control high blood pressure (hypertension). It can also be related to pregnancy, strong emotions, hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis), or diabetes. The elderly are particularly affected, especially those who have high blood pressure or autonomic nervous system dysfunction. Hypotension after meals is a common cause of dizziness and falls after eating. This is most common after large meals containing a lot of carbohydrates. It’s believed to be caused by blood pooling into the vessels of the stomach and intestines. Several drugs are commonly associated with postural hypotension. These medications can be divided into two major categories: Common causes of naturally occurring postural hypotension include: Certain diseases can also cause postural hypotension. These include: SOURCES: American Heart Association: "Low Blood Pressure." Ferri, F. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2012 Mosby, 2012. FDA: "Midodrine Update: February 8, 2012." Thaisetthawatkul P. Neurology 2004. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: "What Is Hypotension?" Libby, P and Bonow, R. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine, Saunders, 2007. Low blood pressure, also known as hypotension, is a blood pressure under 90/60 millimeters of mercury. Many people have no symptoms. When it does cause symptoms, they’re usually disruptive, such as dizziness and fainting. In some cases, hypotension is dangerous, so early diagnosis and treatment are important.
OverviewSymptoms of low blood pressure.What is low blood pressure?Hypotension, or low blood pressure, is when your blood pressure’s much lower than expected. It can happen either as a condition on its own or as a symptom of a wide range of conditions. It may not cause symptoms, but when it does, it can require medical attention. Hypotension has two definitions:
Measuring blood pressure involves two numbers in millimeters of mercury.
How does low blood pressure affect my body?Usually, your body can automatically control your blood pressure and keep it from dropping too much. If it starts to drop, your body tries to make up for that, either by speeding up your heart rate or constricting blood vessels to make them narrower. Symptoms of hypotension happen when your body can’t offset the drop in blood pressure. For many people, hypotension doesn’t cause any symptoms. Many people don’t even know their blood pressure is low unless they measure their blood pressure. For people with symptoms, the effects depend on why hypotension is happening, how fast it develops and what caused it. Slow decreases in blood pressure happen normally, so hypotension becomes more common as people get older. Fast decreases in blood pressure can mean certain parts of your body aren’t getting enough blood flow. That can have effects that are unpleasant, disruptive or even dangerous. Who does low blood pressure affect?Hypotension can affect people of any age and background, depending on why it happens. However, it’s more likely to cause symptoms in people over 50 (especially orthostatic hypotension). It can also happen (with no symptoms) to people who are very physically active, which is more common in younger people. How common is low blood pressure? Because low blood pressure is common without any symptoms, it’s impossible to know how many people it really affects overall. However, orthostatic hypotension seems to be more and more common as you get older. An estimated 5% of people have it at age 50, while that figure climbs to more than 30% in people over 70. Symptoms and CausesWhat are the symptoms of low blood pressure?The most common low blood pressure symptoms happen because your brain isn’t getting enough blood flow. These include:
What causes low blood pressure?Hypotension can happen for a wide range of reasons. Causes of low blood pressure include:
Is it contagious?No, hypotension isn’t contagious, so you can’t get it from someone else or pass it on to others. Diagnosis and TestsHow is low blood pressure diagnosed?Hypotension itself is easy to diagnose. Taking your blood pressure is all you need to do. However, figuring out why you have hypotension is another story. If you have symptoms, a healthcare provider will likely use a variety of tests to figure out why it’s happening and if there’s any danger to you because of it. What tests will be done to diagnose low blood pressure?Your provider may recommend the following tests: Lab testing Tests on your blood and pee (urine) can look for any potential problems like:
Imaging If doctors suspect a heart or lung problem is behind your hypotension, they’ll likely use imaging tests to confirm or rule out those suspicions. These tests include:
Diagnostic testing These tests look for specific problems with your heart or other body systems.
Management and TreatmentHow is low blood pressure treated?Low blood pressure treatment usually starts with finding out why it’s happening. If that cause is treatable directly, hypotension will usually get better on its own. An example of this is hypotension that happens because of an injury and blood loss. Repairing that injury and replacing the lost blood (such as with a blood transfusion) will stop hypotension as long as the repair to the injury holds. If you take medications that affect your blood pressure, your healthcare provider may change your dosage or have you stop taking that medication entirely. If the cause remains a mystery, it’s also possible to treat it directly. However, curing hypotension is only possible if there’s an underlying cause that’s curable. What medications/treatments are used?The most important thing for a provider treating low blood pressure is to find the underlying cause and correct it. Treatments can range from simple IV fluids to antibiotics to surgery or even a heart transplant. Some people with low blood pressure need a hospital stay. Treating hypotension directly usually happens in one of three ways:
Complications/side effects of the treatmentThe complications of treatment depend on the exact medication or treatment you receive. Your healthcare provider can best explain the possible complications or side effects. That’s because they can consider your specific circumstances, including other health conditions, medications you take and more. How do I take care of myself/manage symptoms?If your healthcare provider diagnoses you with hypotension, they may do the following:
How soon after treatment will I feel better?Depending on the cause of your hypotension, you may feel better as you receive treatment. In some cases, it may take longer — days or even weeks — for medication or other treatments to help you feel better consistently. PreventionHow can I reduce my risk of developing low blood pressure or prevent it entirely?It’s usually not possible to reduce your risk of or prevent hypotension. The only exception is avoiding circumstances or actions that can lead to it, such as taking recreational drugs or supplements/herbal remedies that can lower your blood pressure. Outlook / PrognosisWhat can I expect if I have low blood pressure?If you have hypotension, what you can expect depends on what causes it and if you have symptoms. If you don’t have symptoms, it’s unlikely that hypotension will be a problem for you. If you have symptoms, hypotension can interfere with your ability to stand up, care for yourself, cook, drive and do many other activities. That’s why understanding the condition and following a healthcare provider’s guidance are so important to minimizing this condition’s impact on your life. How long does low blood pressure last?How long this condition lasts depends very much on what caused it. If you have hypotension because of normal aging, it’ll probably be a lifelong concern. Outlook for low blood pressureIf you have low blood pressure but don’t have symptoms, this condition usually isn’t harmful and shouldn’t impact your life. If you do have symptoms, the underlying cause is usually what determines the outlook for this condition. Your healthcare provider is the best person to tell you what to expect from this condition and what you can do to manage those effects. Complications that can happen because of hypotension include:
Living WithHow do I take care of myself?If you have hypotension with symptoms, the best thing you can do is follow your healthcare provider’s guidance on managing this condition. Their recommendations may include any of the following:
When should I see my healthcare provider?If you know you have hypotension, you should see your healthcare provider if you start to notice symptoms affecting your life or disrupting your usual routine and activities. If you don’t know you have hypotension, you should see a healthcare provider if you have repeated dizziness or fainting episodes. This is especially important because those symptoms are possible with many other health conditions, some of which are dangerous. When should I go to the ER?If you have hypotension, you should go to the hospital for the following:
What questions should I ask my doctor?Questions you should ask your provider include:
A note from Cleveland Clinic Hypotension is a condition that can have no symptoms, and many people don’t even know they have it. For others, it can cause symptoms that are unpleasant and even disruptive to your daily life and activities. If you suspect you have low blood pressure, getting it diagnosed and treated is essential. A proper diagnosis and treatment can help you avoid falls and other complications. Fortunately, this condition is often treatable, and there are many things your healthcare provider can explain to you that can help you care for yourself. Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Print Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 11/02/2022. References
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What is the lowest blood pressure acceptable?If your blood pressure is 120/80 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or lower, it's considered normal. Generally, if the blood pressure reading is under 90/60 mm Hg, it is abnormally low and is referred to as hypotension.
When should I go to the ER for low blood pressure?In rare cases, low blood pressure can become a medical emergency. If you are experiencing mental confusion, blue or pale skin, loss of consciousness, difficulty breathing, low pulse, or other severe symptoms, call 9-1-1 or go to your nearest emergency room for immediate medical attention.
Is 70 over 40 low blood pressure?Normal blood pressure in adults is less than 120/80 mmHg. Low blood pressure is a reading below 90/60 mmHg. Most forms of hypotension happen because your body can't bring blood pressure back to normal or can't do it fast enough.
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