An adequate level of blood pressure has long been considered 120 per 80 mmHg. This belief exists in the minds of ordinary people without much medical knowledge.
Is this really the only possible indicator or is it still a variant of the clinical norm? We can say that the second is true.
The World Health Organization has long defined a range of normal values, taking into account the average level of blood pressure at which people feel acceptable and do not experience health problems.
However, the indicated blood pressure indicator of 90 to 50 is never considered adequate if only healthy adults are taken into account.
90 to 45 or 90 to 50 is a pathological condition called hypotension.
Actually, low pressure doesn't mean much. The process is never isolated and primary. There is always one pathology or another that causes such a significant decrease in blood pressure. A thorough examination for diseases is necessary.
What information should a patient obtain in order to promptly pay attention to his health?
What does a blood pressure level of 90/50 mean?
In a healthy person, normal blood pressure ranges from 120/80 to 110/70 mm. rt. Art. Therefore, a pressure of 90 to 50 is considered a pathological manifestation for people of different age groups. A simultaneous decrease in cardiac and renal pressure is a manifestation of insufficient circulating blood volume, which leads to a deficiency of oxygen and nutrients in the body. This causes a disorder in the functional activity of vital organs, namely damage to the myocardium and brain.
Indicators of 90 to 50 are considered arterial hypotension. In this condition, the lumen of blood vessels expands, resulting in a decrease in the productive work of the heart muscle and a decrease in blood flow. In most cases, hypotension is a secondary pathology; low blood pressure occurs against the background of other diseases.
How is hypotension treated?
Hypotension is eliminated etiologically, that is, it is necessary to act on the root cause of the disease-causing condition.
The list of measures is wide and does not fit into the scope of the material: this includes the elimination of kidney pathologies, hormone replacement therapy, and other methods.
Symptomatic treatment consists of eliminating manifestations. It is necessary to regularly take tonic medications prescribed by a doctor, normalize your diet, change your lifestyle, and give up bad habits completely. No alcohol or cigarettes.
Optimize physical activity: physical inactivity does not lead to anything good. This will be sufficient for the system.
Norm or pathology
If a pressure of 90 to 50 does not provoke the development of symptoms and signs of hemodynamic disturbances, then this can be considered as physiological hypotension. This condition is individual, and is more often diagnosed in young people, especially girls. It is difficult to eliminate primary hypotension, since the compensatory mechanisms responsible for the regulation of blood pressure have adapted to maintain it at a minimum level.
Hypotension is considered to be pathological, in which characteristic disturbances and complaints of deterioration of well-being are observed. It is observed in patients with normal or elevated blood pressure. Oxygen deficiency causes damage to the myocardium and brain, which causes the clinical picture of hypotension.
No ads 1
Reasons for the development of low blood pressure
A decrease in blood pressure is usually associated with a violation of the mechanism of its regulation. The following are the causes of hypotension that provoke a decrease in blood pressure:
- Decrease in circulating blood volume (internal bleeding, dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea).
- Insufficient pumping activity of the myocardium (cardiomyopathy, heart attack, arrhythmia, heart failure).
- Disorder of hormone production by the endocrine glands (hypothyroidism, Addison's disease).
- Dysregulation of vascular tone (diseases of the nervous system, stress, neoplasms, traumatic brain injury, stroke).
- Excessive expansion of arterioles (intoxication, poisoning, burns, overdose of antihypertensive drugs).
Women are more susceptible to hypotension, especially during the period of hormonal changes in the body, during which there may be no symptoms.
If the diastolic reading is 50
A decrease in the lower indicator can be caused by both physiological and pathological processes in the body. The physiological form is typical for young people with an asthenic body constitution and hereditary predisposition. The condition does not cause any disturbance of well-being or discomfort.
Vegetative-vascular dystonia can be the primary cause of the disease and subsequently become chronic. Low blood pressure can be caused by the following factors:
- diseases of the urinary system;
- decreased thyroid function;
- allergic reaction;
- damage to the adrenal cortex;
- peptic ulcer of the digestive tract;
- pinching of the cervical vertebrae;
- anemia;
- malignant neoplasms;
- starvation;
- infectious diseases.
A one-time detection of a hypotensive state does not require therapeutic measures; if blood pressure is constantly low, it is necessary to undergo an examination to determine its cause and select the optimal therapy.
Reasons for a one-time drop in blood pressure in patients
A single decrease in blood pressure rarely indicates complex pathologies of any profile. More often there are natural, physiological factors.
Among them:
- Overwork. As a result of increased stress on the body, cerebral circulation is impaired with inhibition of the regulatory centers of cerebral structures responsible for normal vascular tone. Usually the violations are not critical and are completely reversible.
- A sharp change in body position in space, unreasonably rapid movements. They cause so-called orthostatic hypertension. It is not only temporary, but also lasts no more than a few seconds or minutes. After the attack ends, everything returns to normal. But there may be adverse consequences such as fainting or dizziness and falling.
- Menstrual cycle. Lasts for different periods of time. Throughout the entire cycle, changes in the nature of cerebral circulation are observed. The decrease and increase in pressure is not one-time, but temporary, short in duration, therefore it cannot be classified as a pathology.
- Abuse of antihypertensive pharmaceutical drugs. The problem of patients with hypertension. If the dosage is incorrect, the pressure will begin to jump and become unstable.
- Post-stroke or post-infarction condition. During the rehabilitation period, a decrease in the tonometer reading is acceptable, but it is necessary to constantly monitor blood pressure levels and the general condition of the patient.
This is not a complete list, but the reasons presented are the most common in clinical practice. They are not dangerous and are reversible.
Low values in older people
If a pathological condition is diagnosed in an elderly person, the risk of developing disorders of the cardiac and vascular systems increases. As a rule, a decrease in tonometer values in people aged 50 is associated with insufficient elasticity of the arterial walls and the formation of an atherosclerotic process. The development of hypotension is dangerous for an elderly person, since there is a risk of acute vascular and cardiac pathologies. A common complication of hypotension is coronary heart disease.
Low diastolic pressure in old age is manifested by a disorder of urination, due to reverse vascular resistance, which prevents the filtration of urine. Metabolites accumulate in the bloodstream, which leads to the formation of mild renal failure.
Important! A characteristic sign of low blood pressure in an elderly person is orthostatic hypotension, which occurs with a sudden change in body position. It manifests itself as dizziness, lightheadedness, weakness, and visual disturbances.
Nothing hurts, but I don’t even have the strength to get out of bed... Is this a familiar state? It may be a sign of low blood pressure. Yulia Sachuk, a cardiologist at Petrozavodsk Polyclinic No. 4, spoke about what hypotension is and how to live with it.
– Yulia Viktorovna, what kind of blood pressure is considered low and is called hypotension?
– Less than 100/70 or 90/60, but there are a few caveats. First of all, you need to understand that hypotension can be of two types. If we are talking about physiological hypotension, then for many people this is a completely normal condition.
That is, a person with a blood pressure of 90/60 can feel very good; for him, such seemingly low blood pressure is not hypotension. This is his normal state.
Most often, such pressure occurs in fragile and petite girls and slender young women. In men, overweight people, hypotension is much less common.
In addition to physiological, hypotension can be secondary, when a decrease in pressure occurs due to a number of reasons. For example, after taking medications that lower blood pressure in hypertensive patients, if their dosage is not adjusted. Or after taking medications, the side effect of which is a decrease in blood pressure.
Certain diseases can lead to secondary hypotension, in particular any intoxication of the body (ARVI and other inflammatory diseases), anemia (decreased hemoglobin), as well as chemotherapy for oncology.
– What does a person experience with hypotension?
– General weakness, drowsiness, fatigue, nausea...
– Isn't nausea a sign of high blood pressure?
- Not only. Symptoms such as headache, dizziness, trembling in the body, in the hands, palpitations, nausea can occur with both hypertension and hypotension.
– Are there medications for hypotension?
– There are no clinical recommendations for prescribing drugs for hypotension. In order to slightly increase blood pressure, as a rule, they take caffeine-containing medications, you can also drink strong tea, herbal infusion, a cup of coffee, or eat a piece of dark (that’s right, bitter!) chocolate.
In addition, you can lie down with your legs elevated: in this case, blood flow to the heart increases and the pressure rises slightly.
– If a person suddenly gets up from bed, for example in the morning, and feels dizzy, is he hypotensive?
– In this case, we can talk about the so-called orthostatic hypotension, that is, a condition that occurs during a sharp transition from a horizontal to a vertical position. The advice here is this: when sleeping, the head should be higher than the lower part of the body, that is, such people are not recommended to sleep without a pillow, as many people do now.
In addition, they should not get up abruptly; it is better to do it calmly, without rushing, so that the body has time to stabilize: first, sit down on the bed, pause, and then you can get up.
– Everyone knows that hypertension can lead to serious consequences such as stroke or heart attack. What about hypotension?
– Low blood pressure can be dangerous, of course. Most often in older people taking pills for hypertension. Moreover, the most dangerous time is in the morning. The fact is that at night a person’s blood pressure usually drops slightly, and while taking antihypertensive drugs this decrease is even greater. Therefore, it is very important to follow the correct dosage of medications.
– How dangerous is hypotension for pregnant women?
– I will say this: the greater danger for them is high blood pressure, which can lead to complications and premature birth.
– How does the weather affect hypotensive patients?
– They are often sensitive to weather changes, especially in the off-season, during the transition from one season to another. More often in spring and autumn.
– If a person lives with low blood pressure for many years, does this mean that he is not at risk of hypertension?
- Of course not! Hypotension is not a guarantee that you will never have hypertension. It can develop as an independent disease under the influence of various factors, when the neurohumoral regulation of the body is disrupted, that is, the nervous and vascular systems begin to work not quite correctly. Hypertension can also be hereditary.
It is worth noting that for hypotensive people the limits of high blood pressure are somewhat lower. For example, everyone knows that hypertension is when blood pressure repeatedly exceeds 140/90. So, for those who have always had low blood pressure, 130/80 may already be the initial manifestation of hypertension.
Of course, if we talk about hypertension and hypotension, then today throughout the world it is hypertension, that is, arterial hypertension, that “contributes” to mortality from cardiovascular diseases both in our country and in Europe, and, in general, in all over the world. But hypotension cannot be ignored either. In any case, if something bothers a person, you need to see a therapist.
By the way
- Low blood pressure and a sedentary lifestyle are a very bad combination. Hypotonic people benefit from dosed physical activity, because this increases blood pressure slightly. You can dance, swim in the pool, ski, walk or bike... The load should be selected individually, taking into account existing contraindications.
- Hypotensive people need to eat regularly, at least four times a day. A diet with a high content of potassium (potatoes, eggplants, cabbage, prunes, apricots) and calcium (dairy and fermented milk products, cheeses) helps improve your well-being.
- It is recommended to sleep at least 7-8 hours a day, ideally all 9. Otherwise, lethargy and irritability are guaranteed.
Indicators 90/50 during pregnancy
A pregnant woman experiences constant changes in hormonal levels, which provokes changes in blood pressure. If during pregnancy the indicators drop to 90 to 50 or 90 to 55, then this indicates the formation of the following conditions:
Blood pressure 80 over 60 - what does this mean?
- high susceptibility to stress;
- excessive nervous and mental stress;
- a sign of toxicosis;
- vascular and heart diseases;
- disruption of the vegetative-vascular center.
A decrease in parameters can be observed if the pregnant woman is in an incorrect position during night sleep (on her back), which leads to circulatory disorders, so experts recommend that women lie on their sides.
Decrease in parameters in a teenager
Why do teenagers experience low blood pressure? In adolescence, hypotension develops as a result of hormonal changes and non-compliance with the daily routine. Excessive consumption of harmful foods, physical inactivity and prolonged stay in a stuffy room also provoke a decrease in parameters.
Blood pressure parameters of 90/50 in a child under 7 years of age are a variant of the norm
Organic causes of hypotension during puberty:
- disorder of the endocrine glands;
- diseases of the circulatory system;
- diseases of the digestive tract.
Causes of pressure 90 to 50
Often hypotension is hereditary in nature - in such cases a person does not feel low blood pressure and feels normal. But if the indicators rise to normal values, the condition may worsen - it is necessary to undergo an examination to identify and eliminate the causes of the pathology.
Why does blood pressure begin to decrease:
- stress, physical and emotional fatigue, chronic lack of sleep;
- lack of regular physical activity;
- blood pressure decreases in insulin-dependent diabetes, tuberculosis, hypothyroidism;
- work in enterprises with high humidity and air temperature;
- chronic infectious diseases;
- pancreatitis, cirrhosis, hepatitis, sepsis;
- anemia that occurred against the background of severe blood loss;
- endocrine diseases in which glucose deficiency occurs.
Read also: Causes and treatment of rapid heartbeat
Frequent stress is a precursor to hypertension
Hypotension can be caused by strict diets, fasting, or poor diet. Low blood pressure occurs with dehydration, thrombosis, brain injuries, spinal diseases, and heart attack.
During pregnancy
Why does hypotension occur in pregnant women? Fluctuations in hormonal levels during pregnancy provoke a decrease in blood pressure. Hypotension develops against the background of stress, severe toxicosis, diseases of the cardiovascular system, and vegetative-vascular dystonia. Arterial indicators fall with ulcers, malfunctions of the adrenal glands and the thyroid gland.
In the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, pressure may decrease due to incorrect position during sleep - it is not advisable for expectant mothers to sleep on their backs, since the fetus compresses the vena cava and blood circulation worsens.
During pregnancy, it is better for expectant mothers to sleep on their side
Is low blood pressure dangerous during pregnancy? Mother's hypotension is very dangerous for the child - the fetus suffers from a lack of oxygen and nutrients, pathological changes develop in the heart and brain, and the risk of developing birth defects increases. With hypotension, labor is weakened, often doctors have to stimulate the process of delivery, or perform a caesarean section.
In a child under 7 years of age, blood pressure is 90 over 50 – the norm, provided that there is no general deterioration in the condition. Sometimes such values indicate overwork and infectious pathologies.
Blood pressure 90/50 in an elderly person
With age, pressure readings should increase slightly, this is due to increased work of the heart muscle. Hypotension in an elderly person is an abnormal and dangerous phenomenon that indicates serious problems in the functioning of the cardiovascular system.
The doctor will help you choose a drug that will not lower blood pressure
Some medications can provoke a decrease in blood pressure in an elderly person - you need to consult a doctor, he will select a safe analogue that will not affect blood pressure.
In a teenager
At puberty, low blood pressure develops against the background of hormonal changes in the body and regular disruption of the daily routine. Hypotension in adolescents is a consequence of a passion for junk food, prolonged stay indoors, and a sedentary lifestyle.
A sedentary lifestyle may be the cause of low blood pressure in teenagers.
Sometimes it’s enough just to stick to your daily routine, eat a healthy and balanced diet, and take long walks for your indicators to return to normal.
Read also: Discharge from the urethra in men
Characteristic signs of reduced values
Of course, the main signs of low pressure are the tonometer readings - ninety to fifty. However, hypotension can be recognized by the following symptoms:
- causeless weakness, fatigue;
- pale skin;
- headaches in the temples, forehead;
- dizziness;
- darkening of the eyes;
- fainting;
- pain in the heart area;
- frequent urge to yawn.
In cases where hypotension develops against the background of other pathologies, the symptoms are supplemented by other signs characteristic of them.
No ads 2
Symptoms requiring specialist help
The list of manifestations listed below is incomplete. It is recommended to seek the help of a doctor in all controversial cases if there is the slightest suspicion of pathological processes. There is no need to be embarrassed to contact a specialist.
Dangerous or at least warning signs include:
- Sudden dizziness and darkening of the eyes for no apparent reason. Especially if the attacks recur repeatedly.
- Headaches of a regular nature. Unreasonable at first glance.
- Nausea.
- Vomiting, repeated without signs of relief.
- Pain behind the sternum without increased blood pressure. Otherwise, there is reason to suspect a heart attack, and competent help is required.
- Shortness of breath, breathing problems.
- Darkening in the eyes with a sharp change in the position of the body in space. Indicates orthostatic hypotension, its causes are varied.
- Mental status disorders, including depression and anxiety.
- Appetite disorders.
- Other accompanying symptoms of various diseases: dyspepsia, deterioration of general health, weakness, fatigue, increased body temperature to insignificant levels.
All manifestations must be taken into account and not ignored.
Reducing parameters in case of heart palpitations
In many patients, low blood pressure readings are accompanied by a heart rhythm disorder. The danger of the combined course depends on the etiological factor, so for some the condition does not pose a threat, while for others it provokes serious complications.
With normal contractile activity of the myocardium, when the pulse is 70 beats/min in people under 50 years of age and with a pulse of 80 beats/min in people over 55 years of age, hypotension does not pose a threat to the body.
Tachycardia at low levels develops due to the activation of compensatory mechanisms in order to improve the nutrition of all organs and tissues. Tachycardia occurs in healthy people as a result of a decrease in circulating blood volume, which can be caused by dehydration.
In some cases, a hypotensive state is accompanied by bradycardia, when the pulse is 60 beats/min or lower. The main causes are diseases of the cardiovascular system, namely:
- ischemic disease;
- weakness of the sinus node;
- replacement of cardiomyocytes with scar tissue;
- atherosclerotic process in the coronary arteries;
- cardiosclerosis.
A sharp decrease in heart rate and blood pressure may indicate the development of an acute critical condition requiring emergency care.
Possible complications
Constant identification of 90/50 parameters further increases the risk of stroke and cardiogenic shock as a result of prolonged starvation of brain neurons and heart muscle cells.
Primary hypotension with age can lead to the formation of hypertension due to sharp fluctuations in blood pressure, which leads to a decrease in vascular tone.
During pregnancy, hypotension is a risk factor for premature birth and miscarriage.
No ads 3
