Hypotension - Causes, Symptoms And Treatments

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43

Causes and symptoms of hypotension

Hypotension is a constant or periodic drop in systolic and diastolic blood pressure below normal. Arterial hypotension can be talked about when the pressure drops to a level of 100/60 mm. rt. Art.

Hypotension is manifested by dizziness, vision problems, increased fatigue and weakness, excessive sleepiness, and other symptoms. Therapy is built on the basis of drug and non-drug correction.

According to statistics, women are more likely to suffer from hypotension than men. A decrease in blood pressure during adolescence is often diagnosed. In older people, it makes sense to talk about atherosclerotic hypotension, which occurs against the background of vascular lesions by atherosclerosis and loss of vascular tone.

Hypotension is a rather heterogeneous syndrome, since there are cases when low blood pressure is the only sign of a person's ill health. At the same time, his state of health remains in an absolute norm. Nevertheless, in the overwhelming majority of cases, hypotension is still a pathological symptom.

Content:

• Hypotension reasons
• Hypotension symptoms
• Why is hypotension dangerous?
• Can hypertension go into hypotension?
• Hypotension treatment methods
• First aid for hypotension

Hypotension reasons

The causes of hypotension are multiple, since a drop in blood pressure can occur in a variety of physiological and pathological conditions of the human body.

Among the leading causes of arterial hypotension, the following factors can be identified:

• Neurocircular dystonia. Scientists consider this complex of cardiovascular disorders of a functional nature to be the most fertile ground for the occurrence of hypotension. According to experts, neurocircular dystonia leads to hypotension in 80% of cases;
• One of the leading roles in the development of hypotension is assigned to severe stress and long-term current situations that traumatize the psyche. Chronic fatigue, depressive moods and inadequate night rest are directly involved in the occurrence of primary hypotension;

• Hypotension can be a consequence of diseases that a person already has, including:

  1. Dumping syndrome after gastric resection, gastric ulcer;
  2. Myocarditis, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmia, heart failure;
  3. Disruption of the peripheral nervous system against the background of diabetes mellitus (neuropathy of diabetic genesis);
  4. Hypothyroidism;
  5. Diseases of an infectious nature;
  6. Benign and malignant tumors;
  7. Spinal lesions and other diseases.
• Massive bleeding, dehydration of the body lead to a sharp drop in blood pressure;
• Hypotensive reflexes can be triggered in case of serious injury, poisoning, anaphylactic shock;
• The mechanism of pressure reduction is also triggered in case of a sudden violation of cardiac activity;

• Avitaminosis can lead to the development of hypotension. Especially in this regard, the deficiency of vitamins C, E and B is dangerous;
• Hypotension is often the result of exhausting diets;
• Taking certain medications can cause a drop in blood pressure. In this regard, one should be more careful about the use of drugs for the treatment of high blood pressure;
• Physiological hypotension can occur even against the background of absolute health, if there is a hereditary predisposition to it. Such hypotension is recorded with sudden changes in the weather, with increased physical exertion. Low blood pressure is often seen in trained athletes;
• Resting too much at night can lead to an excessive drop in blood pressure. It has been found that in healthy people, the level of pressure during sleep drops by 10-20%. If the pressure drops by more than 20%, then it can be dangerous, especially for the elderly. Experts associate such a drop with endogenous disorders of neurohumoral regulation.

There are many reasons that can provoke hypotension.

However, the mechanism of its development is always associated with 4 main factors, including:

• Weakening of peripheral vascular resistance. This occurs mainly with anaphylactic shock, with the collapse of toxic or infectious genesis;
• Reduction of cardiac output (shock and minute). This is often observed in severe heart damage, for example, with myocardial infarction, with severe arrhythmias, etc.;
• Decrease in the volume of circulating blood in the body. The main reasons in this case are blood loss with internal or external bleeding;
• Deterioration of the venous blood supply to the heart. The reason for this condition may be pleurisy, or massive ascites.

Hypotension symptoms

If the decrease in blood pressure is of a physiological nature, then, as a rule, the person does not notice the symptoms of hypotension. In other cases, the clinical picture of the disease will vary, therefore it is more rational to consider the signs of pathology, based on its genesis.

Symptoms of orthostatic hypotension

Symptoms of orthostatic hypotension are especially pronounced in the elderly. A drop in pressure is observed for several minutes, when a person moves from a horizontal position to a vertical one. In this case, the systolic pressure decreases by 20 mm. rt. Art., and diastolic - by 10 mm. rt. Art.

Against the background of orthostatic hypotension, the patient experiences symptoms such as:

• Dizziness;
• Weakness;
• Unsteadiness of gait, up to the possibility of falling;
• Visual impairment;
• Interruptions in the work of the heart.

In rare cases, panic attacks and fainting conditions are observed.

Symptoms of postprandial hypotension

This form of hypotension is typical for healthy people. Most often, it is observed in old age. A drop in blood pressure occurs after eating, usually within 2 hours after eating. If a person does not have any other diseases, then, as a rule, he does not notice the symptoms of hypotension.

However, against the background of cerebrovascular pathologies, the following signs may appear:

• Nausea;
• General weakness;
• Speech and vision disorders;
• Disorder of consciousness.

A person can independently associate all these symptoms with food intake.

Hypotension due to stress and physical fatigue

Hypotension against the background of stress, active physical and intellectual activity is most often observed in athletes, as well as in patients with diabetes mellitus or circulatory pathologies.

Symptoms of a drop in blood pressure with mental and physical strain are as follows:

• Sudden weakness;
• Dizziness;
• Darkening in the eyes;
• Numbness of the limbs, feeling of "cottony" legs.

Essential hypotension

This is primary hypotension, characterized by persistent symptoms and most often occurs in young women.

The clinical picture of primary hypotension is as follows:

• All patients complain of headaches, increased fatigue and dizziness. These symptoms go away if the pressure rises;
• Patients are prone to increased anxiety and depressive moods;
• There are disorders of the autonomic nervous system. So, periodically, a person has an unmotivated feeling of heat or cold, numbness of the limbs, increased sweating;
• A third of men with hypotension have problems with potency;
• About 50% of patients suffer from regular panic attacks, fainting, orthostatic insufficiency;
• Doctors often hear complaints about heart problems. Patients suffer from shortness of breath, which most often occurs at the peak of emotional excitement or against the background of pronounced overwork.

The course of such hypotension is undulating. People depend on meteorological conditions, on the intensity of stress in everyday life. Such hypotension often disappears with age.

Symptoms of secondary hypotension

Secondary hypotension occurs against the background of existing diseases, of which there are a great many. It is the symptoms of the underlying disease that come to the fore. At the same time, patients note weakness, drowsiness, fatigue, headaches, deterioration of cognitive abilities, sweating of the feet and palms.

Why is hypotension dangerous?

Primary hypotension usually has a good prognosis. But over time, when it passes, it is often replaced by arterial hypertension. At the same time, people very badly tolerate even a slight increase in pressure.

Fear should be caused by progressive hypotension, as it threatens the development of the following complications:

• The risk of developing cardiovascular pathologies increases;
• As a result of hypotension, the vascular tone is constantly reduced, which leads to a slowdown in blood flow, which means that the body experiences oxygen starvation. First of all, the brain and internal organs are affected;
• Severe hypotension is dangerous due to fainting. In case of loss of consciousness, a person can get serious bruises and injuries;
• In old age, hypotension can cause ischemic stroke;
• Scientists believe that frequent pressure surges increase the risk of developing senile dementia.

Can hypertension go into hypotension?

Patients often wonder whether hypertension can turn into hypotension. Cardiologists argue that hypertension cannot by itself transform into hypotension. However, this does not exclude the fact that high pressure can drop sharply to low values.

For example, this often happens when the heart is dysfunctional, in particular, after an acute myocardial infarction or stroke. This is a very dangerous condition that requires immediate and competent medical action.

Hypotension treatment methods

Treatment methods for arterial hypotension directly depend on what causes it. If it is caused by any disease, then in order to eliminate it, you will need to get rid of the underlying disease. If arterial hypotension is provoked by neurovegetative disorders, then it is necessary to eliminate the existing imbalance.

For this, it is possible to use the methods of drug and non-drug correction, including:

• Normalization of wakefulness and rest. Loads should be selected sparingly, at least 8 hours should be allowed for night rest. People with hypotension are advised to sleep with an elevated headboard. At the same time, you should not be in a horizontal position for too long;
• Correction of the diet. Meals should be frequent, but in small portions. Preference should be given to light and not too hot food. It is possible to increase the amount of salt to 10-20 g per day, if there are no contraindications for this. In this case, you need to drink at least 2 liters of water. It is recommended to give up alcohol;
• Visit to the massage therapist's office;
• Hydrotherapy, which includes a Scottish shower, hydromassage, mineral baths, Charcot's shower, etc.;
• Aromatherapy, acupuncture;
• Physiotherapy techniques, such as electrosleep and neck electrophoresis;
• Implementation of complexes of physiotherapy exercises, including swimming, walking, gymnastics.

As for the drug correction of arterial hypotension, drugs of different groups are used for its treatment:

• Herbal adaptogens: tincture of lemongrass, ginseng, aralia;
• The drug Midodrin. Promotes an increase in venous return to the heart, improves the well-being of patients and rarely causes side effects;
• Adrenomimetics: Phenylephrine, Ephedrine, Caffeine;
• Cerebroprotectors: Vinpocetine, Actovegin, Cinnarizine;
• Nootropics: Piracetam, Glycine;
• Antioxidants and vitamin complexes;
• Antidepressants and tranquilizers.

If the patient has an acute drop in blood pressure, then the fastest stabilization is shown with the introduction of vasoconstrictors (Dopamine and Mezaton) and cardiotonics. The use of glucocorticosteroids, colloidal and saline solutions is possible.

First aid for hypotension

First aid for hypotension is reduced to performing the following actions:

• It is necessary to lay the patient on a comfortable surface with a roller under his feet;
• You can sit the patient in such a way that he lowers his head below the knees;
• It is important to help the person monitor their breathing. It should be flat, but not deep;
• If a person loses consciousness, then you can offer him to smell a cotton pad moistened with ammonia;
• When the patient's state of health improves, you need to give him a cup of sweet tea or coffee. The drink should not be very hot.

If there is no improvement in the condition, then an ambulance team should be called without delay.

The author of the article: Molchanov Sergey Nikolaevich | Cardiologist

Education: Diploma in "Cardiology" received at the PMGMU. I. M. Sechenov (2015). Here I completed my postgraduate studies and received a diploma "Cardiologist".