Arterial hypotension: do you suffer from low blood pressure?

By Cristiano Antonino On May 20, 2023

Arterial hypotension can be defined as a condition in which the arterial blood pressure is lower than normal

Usually, blood pressure is expressed by two values: the maximum or systolic and the minimum or diastolic.

These numbers are expressed in millimetres of mercury (mmHg) and are key indicators for controlling blood pressure.

Physiological blood pressure values should be: maximum less than 120 mmHg and minimum around 80 mmHg.

These values are a reference for understanding whether one is suffering from alterations in blood pressure.

Usually, those suffering from arterial hypotension have different values with the systolic below 100 mmHg and the diastolic below 60 mmHg.

Blood pressure levels can become complex to manage and dangerous to health when the maximum drops below 80 mmHg.

Despite this, however, a number of doctors consider changes in blood pressure values to be dangerous in the presence of more or less severe symptoms in the patient and not just on the basis of these parameters.

Symptoms of arterial hypotension can be particularly nuanced, regardless of factors such as age

Certainly, several studies have shown that women are more affected than men and that there are different types of arterial hypotension, depending on age.

In the elderly, orthostatic and post-prandial hypotension can be diagnosed, while in younger people, neuro-mediated hypotension is the most common.

The causes of arterial hypotension may be different but, in many cases, it is a temporary condition.

If these episodes are very frequent or intense, it may be necessary to visit a general practitioner in order to investigate the symptoms and possibly carry out diagnostic tests.

Only rarely can low blood pressure be a symptom of internal bleeding or adrenal gland insufficiency.

The symptoms of arterial hypotension can be very different depending on various factors

Certainly, these symptoms can occur suddenly as well as progressively, depending on the underlying cause.

Symptoms are not particularly specific and, among them, include:

nausea
dizziness
syncope
blurred vision
peripheral vasodilation
agitation
restlessness
cold sweating
depression
concentration deficit

Other symptoms of arterial hypotension may include pain related to other conditions, such as heart disease and other complications.

For example, chest pain, fever, neurological symptoms and cardiac arrhythmias may appear.

In addition, the body may activate reflexes in response to hypotension, such as

contraction of diuresis
tachycardia
tachypnoea

Monitoring blood pressure

For those who are predisposed to low blood pressure, it is essential to carry out periodic checks of blood pressure values.

In order to keep your health under control, it may be necessary to purchase a blood pressure monitor.

These instruments usually consist of a band or cuff that must be wrapped around the arm or wrist.

Blood pressure monitors can be of two types: manual and digital.

The latter are the most common today, because they are very easy to use, thanks to a screen displaying information about the heartbeat and blood pressure values.

The more modern models can also provide other information, useful for those suffering from cardiovascular diseases.

Usually the blood pressure measurement starts by wrapping the blood pressure monitor around the arm and squeezing it.

The device must then be started up in order to measure the blood pressure parameters: systolic and diastolic pressure.

It is important to follow a few simple tips in order to obtain a true blood pressure measurement.

These include:

Correct positioning of the arm, which should be resting on a flat surface and at heart height.
Wearing the elastic band correctly around the arm, in order to detect the pressure correctly.
Remain relaxed, stop exercising and avoid eating exciting foods before taking the measurement, so as not to affect the results.

In order to have a reliable history of blood pressure trends, it is advisable to always choose the same time, as this allows you to see what happens at the same time on different days and how your blood pressure changes.

Every day you should take the measurement at similar times so that you can compare similar situations, for example on an empty stomach, just after waking up or in the afternoon.

Finally, it may be advisable to take several measurements a few minutes apart so as to check that the results are truly representative and reliable.

It may be advisable to take three measurements to make an arithmetic mean.

The causes of arterial hypotension can be varied, from temporary problems to more serious conditions

Among the most frequent reasons for low blood pressure are:

dehydration,
sudden changes in posture, e.g. rising quickly from a lying or sitting position,
drop in the amount of glucose in the blood,
strong emotions,
side effects of vasodilator drugs, diuretics and tricyclic antidepressants,
excessive alcohol consumption,
burns,
anaemia,
pregnancy,
vitamin deficiency
gastroenteritis,
metabolic acidosis,
fluid loss and illnesses that weaken the body, such as diarrhoea, prolonged vomiting and profuse sweating.

Some of the causes of arterial hypotension may be cardiac, such as heart failure, pericardial tamponade, myocardial infarction, and progression of chronic cardiomyopathy.

Other causes may include:

anaphylaxis,
anorexia nervosa,
anthrax,
cardiac arrest,
diabetic ketoacidosis,
liver cirrhosis,
renal failure,
Parkinson’s disease,
pericarditis,
sepsis,
septic shock.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of arterial hypotension is rather simple, whereas it is more complex to understand and identify its causes.

Low blood pressure can in fact be a symptom of many pathologies, which is why a thorough medical history is usually taken in order to identify the cause.

During this first examination, the doctor will investigate the possible presence of various risk factors, including:

Any pre-existing and present diseases in the family,
medications currently taken and therapies the patient is undergoing,
previous episodes.

After this examination the doctor can make aetiological hypotheses, reserving the right to ask for further investigations to be carried out if the cause of arterial hypotension is not immediately clear.

These might include:

blood tests,
radiological tests,
electrocardiogram,
neurological tests and more specific tests.

It is not easy to indicate a remedy for arterial hypotension

The many causes of this condition may, in fact, require very different treatments.

The prescription of targeted therapies depends, certainly, on the cause that triggered this medical condition.

For example, in the case of orthostatic arterial hypotension, treatment involves the administration of drugs to prevent dehydration and reduce episodes.

In addition, the use of restraining stockings is often recommended, especially in the case of older patients.

In many cases, however, the causes of arterial hypotension can be attributed to an incorrect lifestyle, for example, in those who work in jobs where it is necessary to spend a lot of time standing.

In this case, it is necessary to change one’s diet, but also certain habits.

In the most serious cases, specific tests and specialist investigations are required in order to precisely identify the cause of hypotension and propose the appropriate treatment.

Diet for low blood pressure

More and more often, in cases that are neither serious nor pathological, the doctor recommends intervening in one’s lifestyle, starting with diet.

In fact, due to excessive sweating when practising sport, dehydration, mineral deficiencies, use of diuretics and ketogenic diets, it may be more likely to suffer from arterial hypotension.

A proper dietary regimen is certainly not a cure or the solution, but it can help improve the condition in milder cases by decreasing the symptoms and discomfort caused by hypotension.

For this reason, it is essential to have a discussion with a nutritionist and adopt the diet regime that best suits one’s needs.

Here are some of the most suitable dietary tips

consume liquorice, which is natural, as the root of this plant contains a substance that has a similar effect to aldosterone, which increases blood pressure;
avoid consuming alcoholic beverages as ethyl alcohol can lead to vasodilation. Moreover, this toxic molecule must be excreted by the kidneys with the urine and this promotes dehydration;
avoid large meals, as digestion requires abundant blood flow and, for this reason, the division of the daily calorie intake could follow this proportion: 15% of the requirement at breakfast, 10% with snacks, 30% at lunch and 25% at dinner;
avoid low-carbohydrate diets, which are responsible for hypoglycaemia and the accumulation of highly osmotic substances such as ketones. The latter, in fact, are toxic molecules which, like ethyl alcohol, the kidneys filter and expel using large amounts of water;
it is necessary to exercise consistently in order to stabilise blood pressure levels. It is necessary, however, to have the correct mineral intake, for example through the use of supplements.

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