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There are different kinds of hypotension and the following is one way of classifying them:- Constant Hypotension. The blood pressure is always low, less than 90/60mm Hg. When the blood pressure is too low there is inadequate blood flow to the heart, brain and other vital organs. Borderline low blood pressure for one person may be normal for another. Many people have a chronic problem with low blood pressure that is not particularly serious.
- Temporary Hypotension. The most important factor is how the blood pressure changes from the baseline or normal condition. A fall of 30mm Hg or more from a person's baseline is considered low blood pressure. This can be caused by any of the following:
- Shock
- Stress/trauma
- Sudden change in posture (orthostatic hypotension)
- Allergy
- Dehydration
- Drug-induced, including alcohol toxicity, anesthesia, antianxiety agents, antihypertensives, calcium channel blockers, diuretics, general anesthetics, antiarrhythmics, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, narcotic analgesics, tranquilizers, vasodilators
- Neurally Mediated Hypotension (NMH). The usual blood pressure may be low, normal or even high, but under certain circumstances blood pressure drops and symptoms develop.
- Age-related decline in blood pressure regulation.
Postural hypotension occurs most frequently in people who are taking drugs to control high blood pressure (hypertension). A hypotensive response may be immediate or delayed.
Treatment & Prevention
If you have an underlying medical problem that causes postural hypotension, seek treatment for the underlying condition.
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