Many of us are pendent of checking our blood pressure to make sure it doesn’t get high. But even low blood pressure can be a sign of health risks, especially for seniors. Low blood pressure, or hypotension, can cause fainting, dizziness, and threatening falls. But, by having the right precautions and adequate treatment, seniors can be safe and live with hypotension. But first, let’s go through the basics we need to know to really understand the topic.
Overview
Blood pressure is expressed in the format systolic blood pressure/diastolic blood pressure.
Systolic blood pressure represents how much pressure the blood applies against the walls of the arteries when a heart contraction occurs. On the other hand, the term diastolic refers to the pressure in the arteries when the heart refills with blood between beats. Normal or optimal blood pressure is around 120/80 (systolic/diastolic).
Now, what is hypotension?
Hypotension is just a medical term to describe low blood pressure, and any measurement lower than 90/60 mm Hg is considered low blood pressure. This could mean that the brain and limbs are not getting a proper blood supply. You also need to keep in mind that blood pressure is also individualized. Meaning that a level that is too low for you else might be typical (and healthy) for other people.
Causes and most common types of low blood pressure.
There is more than just one type of low blood pressure, depending on the causes and symptoms. Here are the most common ones.
- Postural hypotension or orthostatic hypotension: This happens suddenly after moving from lying down to sitting up too quickly. But it’s just due to switching positions and usually goes away in a few moments.
- Postprandial hypotension: This drop in blood pressure tends to appear a few hours after eating. Seniors are especially vulnerable to this type of hypotension. A way to reduce or avoid this is by eating smaller meals and drinking more water.
- Neurally mediated hypotension: If you sand in place for a prolonged period of time you may display this type of hypotension. It occurs due to an abnormal reflex between the heart and the brain.
Apart from these types of hypotension, low blood pressure in seniors can also be caused by other factors, including:
- Low or high body temperature
- Severe dehydration
- Blood infections
- Allergic reaction
- Reactions to medication
- Health problems
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
- An underactive thyroid
- Addison’s disease (a disorder of the adrenal glands)
- Extended bed rest
- Anemia due to lack of vitamin B-12 and folate
- Major blood loss
Low Blood Pressure Symptoms
Some of the symptoms of low blood pressure (hypotension) are:
- Blurred or fading vision
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Fainting
- Fatigue
- Trouble concentrating
- Nausea
For some, hypotension may be a hint of an underlying health condition, mainly when it drops abruptly or occurs displaying symptoms.
A sudden fall in blood pressure can be dangerous. A change of just 20 mm Hg — a drop from 110 mm Hg systolic to 90 mm Hg systolic, for example — can cause dizziness and fainting
Extreme low blood pressure can lead to a condition known as shock. Symptoms of shock include:
- Confusion, especially in older people
- Cold, clammy skin
- Decrease in skin coloration (pallor)
- Rapid, shallow breathing
- Weak and rapid pulse
Risks of Low Blood Pressure in Seniors
Hypotension can typically be managed with treatment, so seniors can continue to maintain their quality of life. However, if left untreated, low blood pressure can pose serious health risks to seniors.
- Dangerous Falls: the first risk for seniors with low pressure is fall-related injury. Hypertension can cause dizziness and fainting, which might both result in falls. Seniors are already at a higher risk of falling because of loss of balance, muscle loss, and other factors. So low blood pressure levels just increase that risk. Falls can cause fractures, sprains, and even fatalities.
- Shock: Extremely low blood pressure can cause shock. This happens because organs need more blood supply than they’re getting. To optimize the blood and oxygen supply they are receiving, organs may shut down, ultimately resulting in permanent organ damage or death. When shock begins to line in, seniors may show confusion, increase breathing rate, and a weak but rapid pulse.
- Heart problems: Hypotension can cause your heart to work harder because it tries to pump faster and harder to make your blood pressure go up. This overtime work can cause permanent heart damage and even cause heart failure. Seniors can also be in danger of getting blood clots, which might result in stroke or deep vein thrombosis.
When to see a doctor
If you are displaying symptoms of extreme low blood pressure (hypotension) or shock, get emergency medical help.
Most health care providers contemplate blood pressure as too low only if it causes symptoms. Periodic minor dizziness or lightheadedness can be a sign of many things, like being exposed to too much time in the sun or any other source of high temperatures. It’s essential to go to a health care provider to get an accurate diagnosis.
If you have persistent low blood pressure readings but feel fine, your doctor may just want to monitor you during routine health checkups. It can be important to keep a record of your symptoms, including frequency or appearance and whatever activity you’re doing at that time.
Managing Low Blood Pressure
If your hypertension isn’t causing symptoms or restricting your daily life, and depending on the primary cause, your doctor may decide to just keep monitoring your readings and tell you to stay on alert for any alarm signs.
Here are a few things you can try on your own to avoid blood pressure problems.
- Reduce alcohol intake: Alcohol is dehydrating and can increase the chance of a drop in blood pressure. Water is the best option to keep you hydrated and it helps to increase blood volume.
- Eat healthily: There are some types of food that can keep your blood pressure in a healthy range. For example, Vitamins B12 and folate can aid your body to produce sufficient red blood cells to reduce the risks of anemia.
By eating avocados, oranges, beans, and leafy greens can help you maintain your folate quota, and some good ways to consume vitamin B 12 are including chicken, eggs, fish, milk, yogurt, and meat on your menu.
- Don’t skip meals.In fact, you can split up your meals into four to five smaller ones throughout the day. It may help you by preventing blood pressure from dropping drastically after you get up from the table.
- Sit with your legs uncrossed. This can be a hard habit to build but sitting with your legs crossed can obstruct your blood flow. It’s also good a approach to take your time when changing positions—from sitting to standing, from lying to sitting, etc.
- Keep a record of your symptoms. Recording the frequency of your symptoms, and the activity you were doing at the time may help your doctor determine if your hypertension is stable or on its way to a danger zone. If you experience any new symptoms or your current symptoms worsen, let your doctor know as soon as possible.
- Be more active: Staying active will help your heart, and your brain, muscles, bones, joints, and mood as well. Ask your doctor how you can exercise safely and request fitness instructors’ assistance to help you out too.
- Get your own home care professional: If you feel dizzy or lightheaded, sit down and take a minute! You don’t need to put yourself at risk. Home care can help seniors manage low pressure. Caregivers can provide a gentle hand to assist keep seniors stable after they rise up after sitting or lying down for long periods of your time. they will also help seniors to eat healthily, drink lots of water, and remind them of their medications on time to avoid skipping them and keep their condition under control.
