What to do if a hypertensive patient’s blood pressure drops to normalize the condition

High blood pressure (hypertension) is observed in a number of pathological conditions. This can be either essential hypertension or symptomatic in diseases of the cardiovascular system, kidneys, adrenal glands, hormonal disorders and endocrine pathology.

With such diseases, normal blood pressure for a hypertensive patient will be considered increased numbers of 130/90 and 140/90 mm Hg. Art. In such patients, blood pressure may drop sharply. In such cases, high blood pressure readings are replaced by hypotension.

Hypertensive patients endure such changes more severely than usual!

A sharp drop in pressure is called a hypotonic crisis. A decrease in systolic blood pressure to 90 and 100 mmHg is considered dangerous. This condition can lead to impaired blood flow and tissue ischemia, up to the appearance of necrosis.

Reasons for decreased blood pressure

The main reason for low blood pressure in hypertensive patients is considered to be drug overdose. Most often this occurs due to a lack of knowledge and taking medications without a doctor’s prescription.

Among the secondary reasons are:

1. Diseases of the cardiovascular system (coronary heart disease, heart failure, endo- and myocarditis, pulmonary edema).
2. Vegetative-vascular dystonia.
3. Infectious diseases.
4. Diseases of the kidneys and adrenal glands.
5. Reduced blood sugar levels.
6. Mental illnesses – depression, severe and prolonged stress.
7. Taking antidepressants, analgesics.
8. External and internal bleeding (perforated ulcer, hemorrhoids).
9. Anaphylactic shock.
10. Severe pain syndrome (attack of pancreatitis, renal colic, peptic ulcer, periodic pain in women).

Provoking factors

Not only the above conditions, but also a number of other provoking factors can lead to a decrease in blood pressure.

Common risk factors include:

• Prolonged bed rest.
• Pregnancy.
• Fever.
• Elderly age.
• Sedentary lifestyle.
• Orthostatic collapse when abruptly getting out of bed (especially in old age).
• Exposure to elevated temperatures that cause vasodilation (thermal springs, baths, saunas).
• Errors in nutrition.
• Prolonged exposure to the sun and tanning can cause blood pressure to drop. When tanning, adrenaline turns into the tanning hormone melanin and very little of it remains to maintain blood vessels in tone. Hence - weakness and hypotension after prolonged exposure to the sun.

A decrease in blood pressure due to hypertension always manifests itself with characteristic symptoms.

The most notable ones include:

1. General weakness, lethargy, asthenia.
2. State of depression.
3. Headache.
4. Nausea, vomiting.
5. Darkening in the eyes.
6. Dizziness.
7. Possibly frequent loose stools.

Some symptoms are characteristic of both hypertensive and hypotensive crises. Therefore, you should pay attention to the totality of other manifestations.

A sharp decrease in blood pressure in a hypertensive patient is much more severe than in an ordinary person. And prolonged hypotension leads to negative changes in organs and tissues.

Symptoms

A sign of a decrease in indicators may be cold hands of the patient. High blood pressure causes a characteristic state of the body, to which a person gradually gets used. When blood pressure levels decrease, a hypertensive patient does not immediately pay attention to this, attributing all the signs to his underlying disease. Therefore, every person with high blood pressure should know the signs of a hypotensive crisis:

• pale skin;
• bluishness of the lips or skin in the area of ​​the nasolabial triangle;
• sticky sweat;
• cold extremities (upper and lower);
• veins collapse;
• There is a tingling sensation in the arms and legs;
• noise in ears;
• hearing loss;
• darkens and swims in the eyes;
• orientation in space is disturbed;
• speech is confused.

The norm for pathologically low blood pressure is different for each hypertensive patient. But if characteristic symptoms are present, and the pressure has dropped to 100 to 60 or lower, you should urgently call an ambulance.

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Why is low blood pressure dangerous?

It leads to insufficient blood supply, depression and oxygen starvation of vital organs.

With a prolonged hypotonic state, symptoms of a neurotic nature appear: increased irritability, memory impairment, inability to concentrate and decreased performance.

The presence of constant headaches, decreased vitality and performance is a strong negative irritant. This leads to a decrease in optimism, paints the entire environment in a gray color and causes a constant bad mood.

There is increased sensitivity to excessively loud sounds and bright light.

Possible consequences:

1. If the pressure rises sharply during hypotension, this can cause a rupture of the vessel with possible hemorrhage (stroke, heart attack).
2. Injuries from a fall during loss of consciousness.
3. Impaired cardiac conduction up to cardiac arrest.

If your health worsens and the above symptoms appear, you should first measure the victim’s blood pressure. It is important! So that, guided only by symptoms, do not mistake hypotension for a normal hypertensive crisis and begin to reduce blood pressure using medications available at home. If low blood pressure is detected, you should try to normalize it yourself.

What to do if your blood pressure drops significantly

If this happened on the street, the patient should be taken to the shade. It's better to plant or put it down. In a horizontal position, you need to raise your legs. This will ensure increased blood flow and oxygen to the brain.

Algorithm of actions to help the victim:

1. Call an ambulance! Before her arrival, try to provide assistance yourself.
2. Unfasten the collar, remove the belt, belt, tie, loosen all existing elastic bands.
3. Open a window if the victim is indoors. It is important to provide a flow of fresh air.
4. Constantly talk to the patient to avoid loss of consciousness.
5. If the victim has difficulty speaking, then you need to bring a cotton swab with ammonia to his nose.
6. Wipe your face with a wet handkerchief.
7. If you faint, splash water on your face, wave a newspaper in front of your face, and pat your cheeks.
8. If you have a chill, cover with a warm blanket.
9. When vomiting, it is better to lie on your side so that the vomit does not enter the larynx and trachea.
10. You can increase your blood pressure with the drug Cordiamin.
11. If you have a headache, you can give a tablet of Citramon or any other product with caffeine.

If the pressure has not dropped critically, then you can:

• Drink hot sweet tea or coffee. Give a piece of dark chocolate (if you don't have diabetes).
• Massage the ears, back of the head and neck.

• Rub the calf muscles, hands, feet, lower back and stomach.
• Press on the acupuncture point located under the nose.
• Take a contrast shower or rub it completely with a wet towel.

Folk remedies for increasing blood pressure

If blood pressure has decreased slightly, then you can use old and proven folk remedies.

For example, you can use:

1. One tablespoon of honey sprinkled with cinnamon on top, washed down with hot tea or coffee. Even people with diabetes can afford honey in small quantities.
2. St. John's wort decoction reduces the effect of calcium blockers.
3. Aromatherapy with mint or rosemary.
4. Massage the scalp, back of the head and neck. Apply gently, without pressing, with your fingertips.

Other useful tools:

• Pharmaceutical stimulant preparations to relieve drowsiness and fatigue: tincture of Eleutherococcus, Ginseng or Chinese Schisandra under the supervision of pressure and the attending physician.
• In case of severe hypotension, to narrow the lumen of blood vessels, take Norepinephrine (a synonym for norepinephrine, which increases blood pressure) and cholinergic drugs under the supervision of a physician.

Competent therapy to maintain working condition is not enough. A number of measures should be taken that will help not only eliminate, but prevent unwanted drops in blood pressure.

What medications can you take?

Hypertensive patients can use blood pressure medications only with the permission of a doctor. Indeed, in this case, you need to use hypertensive drugs especially carefully.

There are several types of medications that can increase blood pressure. Each of them has its own contraindications.

Means for lowering pressure:

1. Adrenergic agonists. Drugs that promote vasoconstriction. These include Norepinephrine.
2. Anticholinergics. They also have a vasoconstrictor effect.
3. Adaptogens. Normalize the functioning of the cardiovascular system.
4. Drugs that stimulate the nervous system.

Prevention of hypotonic conditions

These simple tips will help avoid spikes in blood pressure in people predisposed to hypertension:

1. Regular monitoring of blood pressure in the morning and evening, recording the results for subsequent analysis.
2. Avoid acute and chronic stress, states of nervous tension - take mild sedatives: Valerian and Motherwort in tablets.
3. Lead a healthy lifestyle: ensure a good night's sleep for at least 8 hours. Go to bed before midnight. If possible, rest during the day for an hour and a half. Follow a diet with sufficient protein, fat, carbohydrates and vitamins. It is possible to take pharmaceutical multivitamin preparations.
4. Do morning exercises, move more, walk in the fresh air. Avoid muscle strain and fatigue.
5. Exercise therapy as prescribed by a physiotherapist. According to indications – hyperbaric oxygenation.
6. In spring and autumn - preventive therapy to avoid the appearance of negative manifestations when exposed to unfavorable environmental factors (changes in weather and atmospheric pressure).
7. Observation by a therapist or cardiologist in compliance with all necessary instructions. Do not self-medicate.

Hypertensive patients should choose the right therapy, lead a correct and active lifestyle, control themselves independently and not neglect the advice of a specialist.
And then you will definitely be able to maintain your working condition, optimism and avoid sudden drops and surges in blood pressure. Author of the article Svetlana Anatolyevna Ivanova, general practitioner

At the doctor

After the ambulance arrives, the victim is hospitalized. Doctors normalize his condition, and then find out the reason for the sharp drop in blood pressure.

To help doctors normalize the patient’s condition, you need to prepare answers to several questions before their arrival. You should try to find them out from the victim.

What questions will the doctor ask:

• Age of the victim;
• Pressure indicators;
• What medications were taken during the day;
• Presence of chronic diseases;
• What symptoms does the victim have?

After normalization of the patient’s condition, the patient will be sent for examination to determine the cause of the current situation. Among the most common diagnostic methods: ultrasound, MRI and CT of internal organs, blood and urine tests for biochemistry, ECG and EchoCG. Vascular monitoring may be required.

Next, the patient may be referred to more specialized specialists. Typically, assistance from a cardiologist, endocrinologist, nephrologist, urologist, immunologist or infectious disease specialist is required.

After a drop in blood pressure, hypertensive patients undergo long-term rehabilitation. They may even need to change their previously used antihypertensive therapy. It is especially important for such people to regularly measure their blood pressure before taking medications.