How Much Do You Know About Blood Pressure?

We all hear about high blood pressure and many of us here are either on HBP med.'s now, or have been in the past, but how much do you know about low blood pressure, or 'Hypotension'?

 

Hypotension is as you can imagine, the direct opposite of HPB.  It's basically when your BP is much lower than usual, (below 90/60) and when it causes symptoms such as dizziness or lightheadedness.

 

It can be brought on by med.'s, alcohol, heart failure, heart attacks and even dehydration.

 

Orthostatic Hypotension can bring this on and happens more when people get older and the BP can't regulate itself as quickly when you stand too fast, so your BP drops and you can get dizzy.  Your Dr. would encourage you to stand more slowly if this occurs, or whenever changing your position.  Also eating and drinking more often and not getting overly tired, or too much sun. 

 

I brought this subject up, because I've heard others as well as myself talk about having this problem and it's just not always discussed as often as High Blood Pressure.

 

I have low Blood Pressure, anyone else??

 

Hugs, Teri

Hi bc!

How's your Blood Pressure been doing??  Still low?

Hugs, Teri

 Hi Lil!  

I just did a drug interaction with these two drugs and I'm hoping the site comes up here with the info I received.  If it doesn't come up when you click, let me know by emailing me, okay?

 

http://www.drugs.com/xq/cfm/pageID_1150/int_1/list_1/values_drugid%3Dd00134%26drugid%3Dd00048%26/OpText_verapamil/dr_%2Cmetoprolol%2Cverapamil/qx/index.htm

 

Your blood pressure changes every couple of minutes!  So perhaps when you checked it - it was just beginning to drop.  Did you recheck it again?  We're you sitting and then standing?  And got up too quickly?  Were you bending over at the time?  These can all add into it.

 

You really need to let your Dr. know about this.  It may be too much medication for your body to handle at this time.

 

Please let me know what you find out and I hope everything turns out alright!!

 

Bunches of Hugs, Teri

I have read in some of my Diabetes Forecast mag. that bp as low as 90/60 is ok as long as the patient doesn't feel dizzy, or anything. If i were you, i'd at least let my dr know about the dizziness and the low bp.

Also, i took toprol xl and verapamil (along with 3 other bp meds) at the same time. Toprol xl was the worst bp med i've ever taken and ive taken just about every class. Everyone is different and meds affect us differently.

Im taking verapamil now and has been for six yrs. It doesn't lower my bp much, but my dr won't change it.

I have very low BP, and when on 2.5 mg. of Lisinipril and 2.5 mg. of Norvasc, my Dr. had to take me off of those, when he added the .4 mg. patch of Nitro Dur, as my BP dropped to 70ish, over 38.  Even now off of those and only on .125 mg. of Digoxin and the Nitro Dur, my BP is zooming when I'm 90/60, or even the other day when the Dr. asked me if I was excited when it reached 100/70! lol

Libby, those extremes are scary as well!  Does your BP do that naturally, or with the type of drugs you are on?

You are so right jtu, everyone is different and just depends on what is wrong with our heart as well. 

Hugs, Teri

Yes, if you are getting dehydrated, bc! You need to drink more liquids when you're outdoors like that, especially in the south where we live! You take care of yourself, we don't need you having a heat stroke or something!

Hugs, Teri :)

Hi Libby! :) If you are taking a blood pressure medication that is also a diuretic, then yes, if you are out in the sun and sweating a lot, then you'd need to be careful!!

Hugs, Teri :)

So many great articlesthank Teri.

I know i am on a HBO, then 2 diuretics and use nitro as needed. butyes sometimes I get dizzy but if it is going up I get poounding headaches in the back of my headlike right at the base of my spine where it meets the head. My doctoercalls doing what we do in the south working and our bp goes low the bear gets you. I try to drink alot but boy can it sneak up on you. BC in Ga Sempi Fi take care and donot let the bear get to you.

Again thanks for the articles Teri.

Heidi

"Modest Weight Loss Curbs High Blood Pressure Risk"

 

 "Overweight middle-aged and older adults who lose 6.8 kilograms (15 pounds) or more decrease their long-term risk of developing high blood pressure, investigators report. Loss of less weight, if sustained, can also reduce risk."

 

I'm not so sure this is 'new' news, as I've heard this for some time, re losing weight and the possibility of Blood Pressure dropping.  I also know several people that this has worked for!  It's certainly worth trying if weight loss is needed...Hugs, Teri

 

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_25353.html