Hypotension causes include things like medication, pregnancy, fluid loss, infection, and anemia. Also known as low blood pressure, hypotension can be a potentially serious medical problem and patients with chronic low blood pressure may need to be treated. In cases of acute hypotension where the blood pressure drops rapidly, emergency intervention may be required to increase blood pressure and stabilize the patient. Treatment options usually involve increasing blood volume and addressing the underlying cause of the low blood pressure.
People who lose fluid can experience hypotension, as there is less fluid circulating in the body to keep blood pressure at a normal level. Diarrhea, excessive sweating, heavy vomiting, and high blood loss like that seen in accidents can all be hypotension causes. In addition, dilation of the blood vessels as a result of medications, exercise, anesthesia, or other factors can also lead to hypotension, as one of the ways the body controls blood pressure is through the size of the blood vessel. Narrow vessels create more pressure, keeping blood pressure stable.
Pregnancy is sometimes associated with drops in blood pressure, caused in part by pooling of blood in the legs. Likewise, people who are not very active can experience drops in blood pressure as the blood settles and does not circulate. Severe infections leading to septic shock are another potential cause of low blood pressure and endocrine diseases are also known hypotension causes. Disruptions in the balance of hormones can make it hard for the body to regulate blood pressure reliably.
Severe allergic reactions, heavy meals, and severe fatigue are all potential hypotension causes. Some hypotension causes do not necessarily need to be avoided, as in the case of exercise, because they confer benefits on the body, but patients do need to be alert to the signs of hypotension so they can take a break and drink some fluids. Generally, people with hypotension can feel dizzy and lightheaded and may trip or stumble because of the dizziness.
In medical emergencies where blood pressure drops, drugs can be administered to constrict the blood vessels with the goal of increasing pressure, while a fluid drip can be used to increase blood volume and get the patient's pressure back up. Hypotension is a known complication of shock and the use of anesthesia and physicians remain alert to any changes in a patient's blood pressure during treatment so they can act quickly in emergencies to address falling blood pressure before it spirals out of control.