Low Blood Pressure

[shazloy]

Hello! I'm 38 yrs old and have recently found out that I've got low blood pressure of 64/80. This has cause dizziness especially when I get up from bed or from any one position where I've been in for some time. What treatment or medication or alternative supplements that I can take to help me? Also, is my low blood pressure due to my insomnia and also my weight loss? I'm 154cm and weigh 35kg. Please advise. Thank you.

[Momto3]

Is your BP supposed to read 80/64?  Have you discussed your concerns with your family doctor?  A systolic reading of 80 is quite low and could lead to your feeling dizzy.  It sounds like you may have orthostatic hypotension (drop in BP primarily when changing position).  Are you taking any medication that could be causing the lower BP?

[heart_of_mine]

I too have low blood pressure from taking a betablocker for Long QT Syndrome. I have increased my salt intake considerably and try to drink alot of fluids in a day. My pressure was 79/46 and a pulse of 43 and is now 88/55 with a pulse of 50 in just over a month and I feel much better. You should try to ask a doctor why he thinks your blood pressure is so low. Ask about your thyroid. Hypothyroid can cause low blood pressure among other things. Weight loss could cause your pressure to lower. Get yourself a home monitoring pressure device and take it daily in the morning and evening and adjust your diet accordingly. It sure has helped me.

[ann746]

My husband gets dizzy and fuzzy head, a few times he has gotten cold and hot.  What could this be.  I can't get him to go to a doctor.  He is getting close to 80 and when he was 62 he had throat cancer, they took care of it with radiation but he still smokes.  He also has a conjestive caugh, chokes sometimes.  He did go have a CT scan in 2005 and that was alright, haven't been able to get him to go again.

Can you advise me.

[mrwjd]

It could be blood pressure, but if he won't measure it, you can't know.  I don't know how long ago the cough started, but 2005 is quite a long time between follow-up exams after cancer.

[shazloy]

Sorry, my blood pressure should read 80/64 and not the other way around.  No, I'm not taking any medication that causes the low blood pressure.  I am a foreigner living in China and the doctor that I went to won't prescribe any medication for me.  Only asked me to take Chinese traditional herbs, etc, which I did, but did not help.  I have a feeling that my blood pressure is so low is because of the insomnia and sudden weight loss.  What do you think?

[Momto3]

Hi shazloy,

I haven't heard where low BP can cause your particular symptoms.  However, given that you are living away from home and are not feeling well still suggests a visit with an M.D. Are you dizzy, lightheaded?  Are you working in China?  If so, is there someone in the group that can refer you to a local doctor who can help? A personal referral might be helpful.

If the weight loss is not intentional, did the doctor give you any idea on the cause?  Did he/she run any blood tests?

[rosequartz]

Hi
I think low weight can definately cause low blood preassure , or at least contribute to it. I have had blood preassure on the low side for a long time 90/60 .Then it dropped even more to 85/45 I was so dizzy all the time and really weak. I also had a allergic reaction to a test that seemed to make my blood preassure very low. The Dr gave me fludrocortisol which is a steroid but I had a very bad reaction to that too ( allthough it did up my B.P) My B.P has gone up naturally now to around 120/70( I dont know what happened I have no diagnosis yet for my chronic chest pain and weakness and sudden deteriation.)and am no longer dizzy ,maybe also coz I put on alot more weight recently I dont know. I used to be anorexic and I know I had low blood preassure then. I think it is a dangerous consequence.Maybe the body naturally resumes a normal blood preassure at normal weight , and even if you are a couple kilos under it can effect , I dont know.35 kilos sounds too low though. Did the chinese herbalist prescribe ginseng? or honey? or eating lots of eggs ? I did try chinese herbs when my B.P was very low and I was in a terrible state after this myocardial test I did and it did give a bit of a boost but you have to be careful, depends what wrong with you but some of those herbs like licorice can give you palpitations  ..but it does raise B.P . Anyway I dont know but I hope you get to see a medical doctor soon . best wishes