When Do You Need Medical Care for Hypotension?
If your blood pressure is always on the low side and you do not have any of the dangerous symptoms, there is usually no cause for concern. Similarly, if you have a single at-home blood pressure reading that is abnormally low without any symptoms, you probably do not need to see your doctor. It is normal for your blood pressure to rise and fall over time, and your body is usually able to get your blood pressure back to normal.
But, says Dr. Lawrence, “when you sense there’s a recurrent problem, or there’s no clear explanation for what’s happened, you need to seek medical advice."
If your blood pressure drops suddenly and you are experiencing symptoms like dizziness, you should call your healthcare provider. They can assess your situation and rule out underlying problems, such as internal bleeding, serious infection, or an allergic reaction.
Treatment for hypotension will depend on the cause of the low blood pressure. Immediate steps might include the following, according to the Mayo Clinic:
- Wear compression stockings
- Drink more water
- Avoid low blood pressure triggers like prolonged standingand other positional changes
After evaluation, a doctor may make these recommendations:
- Avoid alcohol
- Adjust your diet
- Adjust your medications (possibly lowering dosages of blood-pressure-lowering drugs)
- Take blood-pressure-raising medications, such as fludrocortisone (Florinef) and midodrine (ProAmatine)
People who experience shock related to hypotension will need emergency treatment to restore blood flow to their organs and raise their blood pressure back to normal.
It’s important to determine whether your low blood pressure is a primary problem or secondary problem, notes Lawrence. A primary problem means that the body’s reflexes are not working as they should. Secondary causes mean that the low blood pressure is a result of things like dehydration or the effects of certain medications.
“Some antihypertensive [medications] are more likely to cause hypotension than others, and a lot of it is dose-dependent,” says Lawrence. “In most people, there will be some easily identifiable secondary cause or some easy solution to what may even be a chronic problem that has no secondary cause. And that’s why it’s important to see your doctor, so they can make an appropriate assessment.”
Keep track of your blood pressure readings, even if you don’t have any health issues, so that you know what your personal normal reading is. And if your blood pressure is being monitored, talk to your doctor about the blood pressure target range that’s best for you.
Additional reporting by Ashley Welch.
