8 replies to this topic

[pheanix997]

I recently had my blood pressure taken for 24 hrs with an ABPM that was lying around at work, and my readings are in the abnormally low range. My average day/night readings were: 111.0/56.4 mmHG. It seems that the normal range is < 120/80.vThis is concerning. I've always been a low energy person. Very mellowed out to the point where people constantly think I'm a weed smoker - I thought maybe this could be SCT? I'm Fatigued easily. Have pasty skin. Hands and feet always cold. Constant dehydration that doesn't subside no matter how much water I drink throughout the day. Fuzzy vision, and I just got my lens' thickened.  

 

One very, very bothersome symptoms I have is constantly feeling unsteady, maybe slightly dizzy and discombobulated, when I walk and move around and adjust my body in space. I thought this could be from some brain abnormality - perhaps related to dyspraxia or something. But I'm wondering if this could be caused by the low blood pressure. 

 

I've also recently had a sleep doctor do a one-off measurement of my BP and he didn't say anything was out of the ordinary. Anybody think I should bring this report to a GP? Thanks! 

[drg]

111/56 the diastolic is a bit low but I don't think it is significant unless you can identify:

- a cause

- other symptoms related to low blood pressure like light headedness upon standing ect

 

Also if you want to think "hypotension" is the primary illness u are treating then the treatments are limited. Medication wise you can take mitodrine.

120/80 is just the norm people usually say 110/70 is probably better to think as healthy even then it is a huge range that is normal. Especially when it comes to low blood pressure you have a lot of leeway before its in the danger zone. 

 

 

 

[pheanix997]

I don't think it's a severe issue but I think the lethargy that accompanies hypotension could be something that can be attended to. 

[drg]

I think your doc would be hesitent to prescribe midodrine for low blood pressure unless it gets worse but you can try.

Caffeine, salt, water, exercise, pseudoephedrine, ect... would help too.

[AOLministrator]

Blood pressure doesn't tell much, it is safe to ignore if not extremely high (as in 150+ sometimes even 160+) or extremely low (as in something like 30 diastolic paired with other symptoms) because everyone's cardiovascular setup is more than often considerably different and there is no such thing as a 'norm value' that is universally true to everyone. This 120/80 norm value only exists so that nurses know if they should mention it to a more skilled doctor who will give it a thought. BP changes not accomodated by corresponding cardiovascular changes on the other hand do tell something though. Anyway, going by blood pressure alone is often more like reading tea leaves. You could be within whatever huge 60% something deviation and still be perfectly normal and healthy with it. Beware of noob doctors who do not know this.

Edited by Aolministrator, 02 November 2014 - 07:26 PM.

[pheanix997]

Blood pressure doesn't tell much, it is safe to ignore if not extremely high (as in 150+ sometimes even 160+) or extremely low (as in something like 30 diastolic paired with other symptoms) because everyone's cardiovascular setup is more than often considerably different and there is no such thing as a 'norm value' that is universally true to everyone. This 120/80 norm value only exists so that nurses know if they should mention it to a more skilled doctor who will give it a thought. BP changes not accomodated by corresponding cardiovascular changes on the other hand do tell something though. Anyway, going by blood pressure alone is often more like reading tea leaves. You could be within whatever huge 60% something deviation and still be perfectly normal and healthy with it. Beware of noob doctors who do not know this.

Thanks for this explanation. So it's obvious it's not a health concern. With that said, three other colleagues at work also used the monitor - one had high blood pressure, and he is an energetic person, and the two others had low like myself, though low in the systolic range, and they are more laid back, low-energy types like myself. If I find that my lethargy, fatigue, and mental sluggishness get in the way of me living an optimized life, wouldn't it follow that I should raise my BP as ONE means of raising my general energy levels?

 

On first thought it seems reasonable to assume exercise will get the blood flowing and raise BP, but if I get into too great of shape, wouldn't that lower my BP even further? Maybe I'm relating things like mental energy to blood pressure when I shouldn't be because they're distinct items...

[Thew]

Try to exercise once in a while, if it has great effects with your bp then you should be practicing it.

[Dichotohmy]

 

 

On first thought it seems reasonable to assume exercise will get the blood flowing and raise BP, but if I get into too great of shape, wouldn't that lower my BP even further?

 

I'm in the camp of those with some nebulous condition causing low blood pressure, along with orthostatic intolerance. I can also say that in my case, getting in good shape did drive my blood pressure down even more - to around 100/55 much of the time, and also drove my resting heart rate down to around 43 BPM, which significantly worsened my orthostatic intolerance in spite of all the good effects of being in good shape.

 

Then again, my nebulous condition also means I have exercise intolerance and can easily run myself into the ground and crash and burn from a conservative exercise regimin.

 

 

[Mike C]

http://www.health.ha...n-it-be-too-low
http://www.health.ha...n-it-be-too-low
http://www.health.ha...n-it-be-too-low

It appears that the consensus is growing that below 70 diastolic is not healthy
http://www.health.ha...n-it-be-too-low

It appears that the consensus is growing that below 70 diastolic is not healthy