Low Blood Pressure and its causes
Low blood pressure or hypotension, to give it a proper medical term, refers to the fall in blood pressure below the normal. It is a condition in which the action of the heart in forcing the blood through the arteries is weak. This is a direct outcome of a weakened and devitalized system. The patient with chronic low blood pressure may complain of lethargy, weakness, fatigue and dizziness. The patient may faint especially if arterial pressure is lowered further when he assumes an erect position.
These symptoms are presumably due to a decrease in perfusion of the brain, heart, skeletal muscle and other organs. The most important cause of low blood pressure is faulty nutrition. It makes the tissues forming the walls of the blood vessels to become overrelaxed and flabby or stretched. This results in less supply of oxygen and nutrients to the tissues. Malnutrition can result from diet deficient in calories, proteins, vitamin C or almost any one of the B vitamins.
Sometimes, the blood pressure falls rapidly because of haemmorrhage or loss of blood. Low blood pressure may develop gradually because of slow bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract, or through the kidneys or bladder. Emotional problems are far more frequent cause of low blood pressure. To a lesser degree, prolonged disappointment and frustration may result in a subnormal blood pressure.