Low Blood Pressure

[jen]

Last Thursday, I got extremely dizzy all of a sudden. The nurse at my work took my blood pressure and it was 90/50. All of my life my blood pressure has been around 120/80 and has never variated much. Since then, I have had 2 or 3 episodes each day where I get extremely dizzy and my lips get numb. It happens when I am sitting down, and when I get up and move around it seems to lessen, and then goes away after a while. When I am not dizzy, my blood pressure is normal. Then, all of a sudden, it drops to around 90/50 or so. I noticed when I did a search in your med info that most people experience the dizziness when they get up - whereas I am having the opposite. I was diagnosed with PAC's one year ago, and notice that I seem to get them when I reach up or crouch down.

QUESTION 1: Do you think that something could be malfunctioning and causing this sudden drop in BP?

QUESTION 2: I am awaiting blood test results to see if anything is out of order as far as thyroid, etc. goes, but if that was the case wouldn't the pressure stay low rather than going up and down so drastically?

Please answer ASAP as I am really concerned. thanx

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

Blood clots don't usually cause drops in blood pressure.  If you are very concerned you should try calling to get an earlier appointment or seek care at an emergency department.

[jen]

I received all of my blood work back today and it is all coming back normal. So, now to my question above........is it possible that there is a malfunction somewhere? I can't get to the specialist for a month - I could be dead by then! I am really concerned now that my tests came back normal. Could a clot or some other type of blockage be causing the sudden drop in BP? Could my PAC's be a misdiagnoses and could there be a faulty valve or something?

[Christine S.]

HI Jen,
The same thing happens to me and I was told that I have PACs too.  So far, I haven't been told what makes my blood pressure go up and down.  I was wondering can your sugar make your bp go up and down?  Just a thought...  Oh one other thing to the Doc, is okay after sex, to have your heart rate go down like 60 or something and beat  regular say 5 to 7 beats sort of pause then beat 5-7 beats pause...Ect.  Jen let us know what they find out or email me at his_winter_rose***@****

[Annette Wheeler]

I was recently diagnoised with MVP with mild regurgitation!
I am wondering why I would be prescribed CARDIZEM which is a blood pressure medicine as at times my blood pressure seems to be low, although when checked it is usually normal!
How often do you recommand MVP patients to be check or re-evaluated? Thanking you in advance

[tired]

how does extreme fatige and exhaustion affect BP??  can it push it either up or down??

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

There are many possible causes for low blood pressure.  Some common reasons are dehydration, infections, bleeding and autonomic dysfunction.  Hypothyroidism can cause low blood pressure but does not usually cause sudden fluctuations.  I would recommend seeing your doctor for further evaluation of the cause in your case.