Re: Low Blood Pressure

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD-APS on December 17, 1998 at 13:10:06:

In Reply to: Low Blood Pressure posted by Nancy on December 14, 1998 at 10:18:42:






Hi....I have a question on Low blood pressure.  I have heard it is good but how low can it go before it causes a problem and why would blood pressure lower.  I went to the doctor yesterday for a buise on my leg that appeared for no reason, he took my blood pressure, it was 77/44, pulse was 106.  He then took it again and it was the same.  When this happens I get a constant pain in the heart but when the blood pressure elevates the pain goes away.  So my question is, how low can it go before it causes a problem and why would this occur for no reason?   Thank you for any information you can give me.
P.S.- I have been diagnosed with SVT for many years now.  My heart will race itself at speeds of 200 to 250 beats per minutes.  



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Dear Nancy, I am not surprised that you are having symptoms with such a low blood
pressure, you would probably feel better at 90 or 100 over 60.
Any "low" blood pressure that causes a person to feel lightheaded, dizzi, faint, have heart or chest pains, or have
shortness of breath is too low.  Just as it is not well understood what causes high blood pressure, it is not well understood
what causes low blood pressure in otherwise healthy individuals. That is to say, once things like infection, hormonal imbalance
(thyroid and adrenal insufficiency), heart disease, and anemia are ruled out as causes,
then you are an otherwise healthy person with low blood pressure that can be treated with increased salt and fluid intake, support hose
on the legs, and even salt tablets if necessary.  
It is important that a person with a known SVT have that evaluated as a potential cause of low blood pressure.  There are cardiologists that specialize in
abnormal heart rhythms called electrophysiologist (as you may already know) and these physicians are able sometimes to cure the SVT with an ablation procedure, I think
you should look in to that also.  Good Luck.
I hope that this information has been useful, please write back if you have any further questions.
Information provided in the heart forum is intended for general medical informational purposes only, actual diagnosis and treatment can only be made by
your physician(s).