Low blood pressure

[puahph]

Hi
I'm a regular donor, last sunday morning was rejected of donation because of low blood pressure (mine was 95 and i am supposed to reach 100 before allowed to donate). Would like to know how do i increase my blood pressure so tat i don't waste another trip down this week? What causes low blood pressure? the doctor cited reasons like not enough rest and ask me to exercise more :?

I have encountered a few occasions of low blood in the morning, any explanation?

tia!

[Shan Xue]

low blood pressure is good unless you have symptoms of dizziness or faintness when standing up suddenly. i am on a strict vegetarian diet and my blood pressure range from 100 to 120. i don't feel giddy when i stand up suddenly.


The higher your blood pressure, the higher your risk of heart disease and stroke, whatever your level is. This means that someone with a blood pressure of 120/80 mmHg is at greater risk than someone with a blood pressure of 110/70 mmHg. This is why it is so important for everyone to lead a healthy lifestyle to make sure that their blood pressure is as low and as healthy as it can be. Current evidence suggests that if your blood pressure is less than 100/70 mmHg, your risk of a stroke or heart attack is very small and therefore the best blood pressure to have would be below 100/70 mmHg.

What is normal blood pressure?

Until recently, normal blood pressure was considered to be the average blood pressure of the population, ie, in the UK the average adult blood pressure is approx 125/80 mmHg. However, this is not an ideal blood pressure. For instance, the Yamomamo Indians who live in the tropical jungle of Venezuela and still lead the same lifestyle that all humans led up to 1,000 years ago, with a diet consisting of fruit, vegetables and roots with only small amounts of meat. They have an average blood pressure of 96/62 mmHg and this does not rise as they get older. They also have an average cholesterol of around 3.1 mmol/L and do not develop any disease of the arteries.


What is low blood pressure?

If the Yamomamo Indians have an average blood pressure of 96/62 mmHg and are extremely fit and well, it is difficult to define what is meant by low blood pressure. Most people with blood pressures at these levels, ie, around 90/60 mmHg are completely normal and are very lucky that for some reason they are protected from all the bad things we do that increase our blood pressure, like eating too much salt, not eating enough fruit and vegetables, being overweight and inactive etc. However, there are a few people with a blood pressure at these levels who have an underlying cause for their low blood pressure. In nearly all of these cases, blood pressure is much lower when you stand up, particularly if you stand up suddenly. This fall in blood pressure on standing is likely to cause symptoms of fainting and/or dizziness.

Normally, when you stand up blood tends to pool in the veins in your legs. This is stopped by nerves, which contract the veins in your legs ensuring that enough blood returns to your heart and that there is no reduction in the amount of blood that your heart pumps. This maintains the blood supply to your brain.

However, if there is pooling of blood in your veins, less blood returns to your heart and less is pumped out which means a reduction in the amount of blood going to your brain. This causes symptoms of dizziness and some people may faint. This is exactly what happens to guards on parade when they faint because they have been standing in one position for too long. You can mimic this effect when you squat down for a while, for instance when looking at books on a low shelf, and then stand up suddenly.

Therefore, if you have a low blood pressure and you also have symptoms of dizziness or faintness when standing up suddenly you should have your blood pressure checked, both when you are lying down and when you then stand up. This drop in blood pressure when you stand up is called postural hypotension.

Will I need any investigations?

Investigations are only conducted if you have symptoms that suggest a fall in blood pressure when you stand up, ie, dizziness or faintness. If you do have these symptoms or a fall in blood pressure when you stand then your doctor should conduct further tests or refer you to a specialist. This will mean having a tilt test where you will be strapped to a table and tilted, with careful measurements of heart rate and blood pressure taken. Hormone levels in your blood may also be measured to check that your adrenal glands and nerves are working normally.

How is low blood pressure treated?

This will very much depend on the cause. If you are well with no drop in blood pressure when standing then you should congratulate yourself – you do not need any treatment. However, if you do have symptoms then treatment will depend on the underlying cause. If you are taking blood pressure lowering drugs they may need to be changed, particularly if you are taking an alpha blocker such as doxazosin. You will need to discuss this with your doctor or practice nurse. Many people find that by getting up slowly their symptoms can be avoided.

Failure of the adrenal glands can be treated by replacement of the missing hormones. If you have a disease of the nerves then this can be more difficult to treat, but you may respond to drugs that stimulate the nervous system. You may also find that wearing elastic stockings or an anti-gravity suit, or taking hormones that cause retention of salt and/or eating more salt can help. Talk to your doctor for more information.


Is low blood pressure associated with tiredness or depression?

Many years ago it was thought that blood pressures below a systolic of 90 mmHg could lead to tiredness and depression and many women were wrongly treated for low blood pressure with drugs that stimulate the nervous system. Large studies have now suggested that there is no relationship, provided there is no underlying cause for the low blood pressure.

What should I do if I think I have got low blood pressure?

The first thing to do is to have it measured either by your doctor or practice nurse, or get a machine to measure it yourself. It is important to measure your blood pressure not just when you are sitting, but also when you are lying down and standing up. If when you stand there is a large fall in blood pressure and you feel dizzy, you should then seek further advice.

If your systolic pressure is above 80mmHg with no drop when you stand up, and you feel quite well, then you are one of the few lucky people who naturally have very low blood pressure. For reasons that are not fully understand you are protected from the effects of salt and other factors that can cause raised blood pressure levels. On average, you will live longer than people with higher blood pressures.


http://www.bpassoc.org.uk/information/low_blood_pressure.htm



to increase your blood pressure so that you can qualify for the donation, i think you can go for aerobic exercise for at least 20 mins. then go for the donation. i find my blood pressure goes up when i donate after having a jog in the morning.


How fast the heart beats (heart rate). The pace at which the heart beats, or heart rate, is counted in heartbeats per minute. Generally, when heart rate increases, blood pressure rises. When heart rate decreases, blood pressure drops.

http://yourmedicalsource.com/library/highbp/HBP_how.html