Low blood pressure (hypotension)

Diagnosis

Image source
The goal in testing for low vital sign is to search out the underlying cause. Besides taking your anamnesis, doing a physical examination and mensuration your vital sign, your doctor would possibly suggest the following:

• Blood tests.
  These will offer info concerning your overall health still as whether or not you have got low glucose (hypoglycemia), high glucose (hyperglycemia or diabetes) or a coffee red blood corpuscle count (anemia), all of which might cause less than traditional vital sign.

• Electrocardiogram (ECG).
  throughout this painless, noninvasive take a look at, soft, sticky patches (electrodes) ar connected to the skin of your chest, arms and legs. The patches discover your heart's electrical signals whereas a machine records them on paper or displays them on a screen.

An ECG, which might be performed in your doctor's workplace, detects irregularities in your cardiac rhythm, structural abnormalities in your heart, and issues with the availability of blood and O to your cardiac muscle. It may tell if you are having a heart failure or have had one within the past.

Heart rhythm abnormalities come back and go, associate degreed an ECG won't notice them. you may be asked to wear a 24-hour Holter monitor to record your heart's electrical activity as you move your daily routine.

• Echocardiogram.
  This noninvasive examination, which has associate degree ultrasound of your chest, shows elaborated pictures of your heart's structure and performance.

Ultrasound waves ar transmitted, and their echoes ar recorded with a tool known as a electrical device, that is command outside your body. A laptop uses the knowledge from the electrical device to make moving pictures on a video monitor.

• Stress take a look at.
  Some heart issues that may cause low pressure are easier to diagnose once your heart is functioning tougher than once it's at rest. throughout a check, you will walk on a treadmill or do another style of exercise. you may tend medication to create your heart work tougher if you are unable to exercise.

When your heart is functioning tougher, your heart are going to be monitored with cardiography or diagnostic procedure. Your vital sign conjointly is also monitored.

• Valsalva maneuver.
  This noninvasive take a look at checks the functioning of your involuntary system by analyzing your pulse rate and vital sign once many cycles of a kind of deep breathing: you are taking a deep breath then force the air out through your lips, as if you are attempting to inflate a balloon.
• Tilt table take a look at.
  If you have got low vital sign on standing, or from faulty brain signals (neurally mediate hypotension), a tilt table take a look at will measure however your body reacts to changes in position.

During the take a look at, you lie on a table that is inclined to lift the higher a part of your body, that simulates the movement from horizontal to a standing position.

Treatment

Image source
Low vital sign that either does not cause signs or symptoms or causes solely gentle symptoms seldom needs treatment.

If you have got symptoms, treatment depends on the underlying cause. as an example, once low vital sign is caused by medications, treatment typically involves dynamical or stopping the medication or lowering the dose.

If it isn't clear what is inflicting low vital sign or no treatment exists, the goal is to lift your vital sign and cut back signs and symptoms. betting on your age, health and also the sort of low vital sign you have got, you'll try this in many ways:

• Use additional salt.
  consultants typically suggest limiting salt in your diet as a result of metallic element will raise pressure level, typically dramatically. For individuals with low pressure level, which will be an honest issue.
  But as a result of excess metallic element will cause failure, particularly in older adults, it is important to examine together with your doctor before increasing the salt in your diet.

• Drink additional water.
  Fluids increase blood volume and facilitate stop dehydration, each of that square measure necessary in treating cardiovascular disease.

• Wear compression stockings.
  The elastic stockings normally accustomed relieve the pain and swelling of unhealthy veins will facilitate scale back the pooling of blood in your legs.

• Medications.
  many medications is accustomed treat low pressure level that happens once you get on my feet (orthostatic hypotension). as an example, the drug fludrocortisone, that boosts your blood volume, is usually accustomed treat this way of low pressure level.
  Doctors typically use the drug midodrine (Orvaten) to lift standing pressure level levels in individuals with chronic postural hypotension. It works by proscribing the flexibility of your blood vessels to expand, that raises pressure level.

Clinical trials

Explore mayonnaise Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a method to forestall, detect, treat or manage this illness.

Lifestyle and residential remedies

Depending on the rationale for your low pressure level, you would possibly be ready to scale back or stop symptoms.

• Drink additional water, less alcohol.
  Alcohol is dehydrating and might lower pressure level, though you absorb moderation. Water, on the opposite hand, combats dehydration and will increase blood volume.

• Eat a healthy diet.
  Get all the nutrients you wish permanently health by specializing in a range of foods, together with whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean chicken and fish.
  If your doctor suggests exploitation a salt however you do not sort of a lot of salt on your food, strive exploitation natural soy or adding dry soup mixes to dips and dressings.

• Pay attention to your body positions.
  Gently move from a prone or squatting to a standing position. do not sit together with your legs crossed.
  Before arising within the morning, breathe deeply for a couple of minutes so slowly not sleep before standing. Sleeping with the pinnacle of your bed slightly elevated can also facilitate fight the results of gravity.
  If you start to induce symptoms whereas standing, cross your thighs in a very scissors fashion and squeeze, or place one foot on a ridge or chair and lean as way forward as potential. These maneuvers encourage blood ensue your legs to your heart.

• Eat small, low-carb meals.
  to assist stop pressure level from dropping sharply when meals, eat tiny parts many times on a daily basis and limit high-carbohydrate foods like potatoes, rice, food and bread.
  Your doctor additionally would possibly suggest drinking caffeinated occasional or tea with meals to quickly raise pressure level. however as a result of alkaloid will cause different issues, see your doctor before drinking additional caffeinated beverages.

Preparing for your appointment

No special preparations square measure necessary to possess your pressure level checked. do not stop taking medications you're thinking that would possibly have an effect on your pressure level while not your doctor's recommendation.
Here's some data to assist you prepare for your appointment.

What you'll be able to do
Make a listing of:

• Your symptoms, together with any that appear unrelated to low vital sign, and once they occur

• Key personal info, together with a case history of low vital sign and major stresses or recent life changes

• All medications, vitamins or alternative supplements you are taking, together with doses

• Questions to raise your doctor
  For low vital sign, basic inquiries to raise your doctor include:

• What is probably inflicting my symptoms or condition?

• What square measure alternative attainable causes for my symptoms or condition?

• What tests can I need?

• What's the most applicable treatment?

• How usually ought to I be screened for low blood pressure?

• I have alternative health conditions. however am i able to best manage them together?

• Are there restrictions i would like to follow?

• Should I see a specialist?

• Are there brochures or alternative written materials I will have? What websites does one recommend?
  Don't hesitate to raise alternative queries.

What to expect from your doctor?
Your doctor is probably going to raise you queries, including:

• Have your symptoms been continuous or occasional?

• How severe square measure your symptoms?

• What, if something, looks to enhance your symptoms?

• What, if something, seems to worsen your symptoms?

• Do you have a case history of heart disease?