What happens if blood pressure drops too low

Drink plenty of water to avoid hypotension due to dehydration, especially if you are vomiting or have diarrhea. Staying hydrated can also help treat and prevent the symptoms of neurally mediated hypotension. If you experience low blood pressure when standing for long periods, be sure to take a break to sit down. And try to reduce your stress levels to avoid emotional trauma.

Treat orthostatic hypotension with slow, gradual movements. Instead of standing up quickly, work your way into a sitting or standing position using small movements. You can also avoid orthostatic hypotension by not crossing your legs when you sit. Shock-induced hypotension is the most serious form of the condition. Severe hypotension must be treated immediately. Emergency personnel will give you fluids and possibly blood products to increase your blood pressure and stabilize your vital signs.

Most people can manage and prevent hypotension by understanding the condition and being educated about it. Learn your triggers and try to avoid them. If you have low blood pressure, you may want to consider changing your diet. Learn which foods to eat and what to avoid. Learn what your blood pressure reading means. Checking your blood pressure at home with a manual or automated device can help you monitor your health between doctor visits.

Official sodium recommendations have been controversial. This article explains the importance of sodium, potential risks of over- or underconsumption…. Low blood sodium, or hyponatremia, occurs when water and sodium are out of balance in your body. It can cause weakness, headache, nausea, and muscle…. Blood pressure is the amount of force exerted on the artery walls by the pumping blood. Blood pressure varies according to environmental demands. For example, it rises during physical exertion and drops in extreme heat.

Hypotension, or low blood pressure, means that the pressure of blood circulating around the body is lower than normal, or lower than expected given the environmental conditions.

Low blood pressure is only a problem if it has a negative impact on the body. For example, vital organs particularly the brain may be starved of oxygen and nutrients if the blood pressure is too low for that particular person.

Substantial blood loss can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure shock. The most dramatic symptom of sudden hypotension is unconsciousness. Usually, low blood pressure develops over time. Blood pressure is measured using a device known as a sphygmomanometer. Generally, when you stand upright from a sitting or lying position, the blood vessels in your body respond to gravity by constricting.

This increases blood pressure. Treatment depends on the cause. Fever, vomiting, severe diarrhea, overuse of diuretics and strenuous exercise can all lead to dehydration, a potentially serious condition in which your body loses more water than you take in. Even mild dehydration a loss of as little as 1 percent to 2 percent of body weight can cause weakness, dizziness and fatigue.

Lack of concentration Blurred vision Cold, clammy, pale skin Rapid, shallow breathing Fatigue Depression. Lowering the Risk Your donation helps empower people everywhere to learn the facts and take action to lower their risk of heart problems. Donate Now. Decreases in blood volume: A decrease in blood volume can also cause blood pressure to drop. A significant loss of blood from major trauma, dehydration or severe internal bleeding reduces blood volume, leading to a severe drop in blood pressure.

Other prescription and over-the-counter drugs may cause low blood pressure when taken in combination with high blood pressure medications. Heart problems: Among the heart conditions that can lead to low blood pressure are an abnormally low heart rate bradycardia , problems with heart valves , heart attack and heart failure. Severe infection septic shock : Septic shock can occur when bacteria leave the original site of an infection most often in the lungs, abdomen or urinary tract and enter the bloodstream.

Your doctor may have you: Add more salt to your diet. Get fluid through an intravenous IV line if you are very dehydrated. Change or stop medicines that lower your blood pressure. Take medicine to treat the problem that is causing low blood pressure. For example, you may need antibiotics to treat infection or medicines to stop vomiting or diarrhea. How can you prevent low blood pressure symptoms?

For example, you can: Stand up slowly. Drink more water. Drink little or no alcohol. Limit or avoid caffeine. Wear compression stockings. Low blood pressure. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Accessed March 21, Shen W-K, et al. Circulation, published online March 9, DOI: Accessed March 30, Credits Current as of: August 31, Top of the page Next Section: Related Information.