Low blood pressure on standing up:-
This is a sudden drop in blood pressure when you stand up from a sitting position or a sit up from a lying position. In these people the blood pools in the legs and therefore not enough blood gets to the brain causing symptoms of light-headedness, blurred vision and dizziness. This can occur for a variety of reasons as mentioned above (dehydration, excessive heat, varicose veins and nervous problems). Medications also need to be ruled out as a possible because particularly blood pressure lowering medication. It is important to realize that this type of low blood pressure is especially common in the older population above the age of 65.
Lower blood pressure due to brain disorder:-
There are a variety of brain disorders that result in an inability of the brain to respond to changes in posture and as a result an inability to keep up the gravitational pulls drawing the blood to the legs. The inability of the brain to recognize and deal with these changes as we go about our daily function results in dizziness and occasional fainting.
Lower blood pressure after eating
Just as blood will drop to your feet when you stand following a meal (particularly a large meal full of carbohydrates) draws blood into the stomach and make the same symptoms of dizziness, faintness and occasionally falling.
As mentioned above, in the majority of cases low blood pressure is not serious and does not warrant treatment or indeed a visit to the doctor. Once again to emphasize if your blood pressure is measured as 90/60mmHg but you are perfectly fine then this does not qualify as pressure that requires treatment. Again to re-emphasize that low blood pressure only becomes relevant when you begin to feel dizzy, unwell or tired with a documented lower blood pressure. This is when medical advice should be sought.
The aim of the test is to find the underlying cause (if one exists) and correcting the cause by appropriate treatment will then often overcome these symptoms.
Testing for low circulating blood cell count, a low sugar or abnormal hormonal profiles as well as a deficiency of salt in your system will be some simple tests that your doctor will do.
Heart Test:
An ECG, ultrasound of the heart, exercise tolerance testing and other more complicated tests may be performed by a specialist should suspicion arise that the heart and its circulation is responsible for the persistently low blood pressure.
Using more salt to raise the blood pressure as salt will retain more water and allow a greater volume to circulate in your body.
Drinking more water will clearly also raise the blood pressure sufficiently to remove the symptoms of dizziness and tiredness.
Elasticated compression stockings which may be worn from the ankle through to the hips will squeeze the blood back to the heart and prevent blood from pooling in the legs.
Medications:
Several drugs can be used which include medications that increase salt and water retention and others which deliberately raise blood pressure. These should only generally be given by a specialist and under specialist supervision.
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