Low blood pressure or hypotension has numerous causes. In some cases, it is seen in people who are highly athletic, and where no other symptoms are present, the condition may not need treatment. In other cases, it can indicate a variety of other conditions. Treatment thus depends upon cause and can vary significantly.
When a person has been ill with the stomach flu, dehydration can cause temporary low blood pressure. This is a common cause of hypotension and should be treated, since ignoring it can ultimately lead to organ failure. Any incidence of severe dehydration is treated with intravenous fluids until blood pressure rises to within normal levels.
Further, if nausea or diarrhea is the cause of fluid loss, doctors may want to evaluate the patient to see if this is being caused by bacterial or amoebic illness, which will be treated with antibiotics or anti-parasitic drugs. They may additionally give medication to stop vomiting or diarrhea if it continues. Along with fluids, sodium is normally given so that the patient retains some of the fluid.
Certain medications, especially diuretics that cause shedding of excess fluid, and medications to treat a variety of heart conditions, even high blood pressure, can result in low blood pressure. When this is the case, doctors may try different medications, or change dosing amounts so that blood pressure rises. Raising the blood pressure to normal levels is essential to promote organ health.
Internal injuries and internal bleeding may be the cause of lower blood pressure. If a person is in a car accident or has just had surgery, blood pressure is carefully monitored. Should blood pressure drop, this may indicate bleeding is taking place somewhere in the body. Doctors will then look for the source of bleeding and stop it, and may also give blood transfusions to raise blood pressure.
Abnormal heart rhythms that are excessively slow (bradycardia), or quick ones (tachycardia) can cause blood pressure to become too low. The heart may not have time to fill adequately, resulting in less blood to the surrounding organs. These conditions may be treated with medication, surgery, or implantation of pacemakers or defibrillators.
Blood infection (sepsis), which causes organ shut down, is treated with massive doses of antibiotics. Infection of certain organs like the kidneys or pancreas can also cause low blood pressure and may require hospitalization and intravenous antibiotic treatment. Certain other medications like those for mood disorders can cause blood pressure to become too low and may need to be adjusted accordingly.
Since low blood pressure may result from so many different things, medical history and current condition are valuable factors in treating it. Untreated, it can wreak havoc on the body, cause shock, and result in organ failure. It’s therefore very important that blood pressure be evaluated when it is low, especially if the onset of low blood pressure is sudden and causes dizziness.
