Symptoms
Unlike hypertension, low blood pressure is not harmful to the cardiovascular system. However, the symptoms that sometimes accompany it tend to be more difficult to deal with:
- Weakness and fatigue: a persistent feeling of tiredness, lack of energy and exhaustion. It is difficult to overcome, even with plenty of rest and enough sleep.
- Dizziness: More acute hypotension decreases the amount of blood flow to the brain and other vital organs.
- Lightheadedness, faintness or syncope.
- Nausea.
- Blurred vision: People with low blood pressure may experience visual symptoms, such as blurred or weakened vision with a blackout sensation in front of the eyes, due to insufficient blood flow to certain parts of the body, in this case the eyes.
- Increased breathing rate, shallow breathing.
- Increased heartbeats, palpitations.
- Difficulty concentrating.
- Confusion.
- Pale skin.
- Cold blue hands and feet: the body trying to increase blood pressure by constricting the vessels (reducing their diameter) to increase blood flow.
- Ringing in the ears (Tinnitus).
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Diagnosis
The diagnosis of low blood pressure is clinical. It is based on the presence of symptoms as well as the measurement of said pressure.
The doctor measures the blood pressure and the pulse while the patient is lying down for a few minutes. If the blood pressure is not low and the person feels well, the doctor asks the person to stand up and checks the blood pressure again immediately after the person stands up, and then after a few minutes of standing.
Other tests may be done to determine the cause of low blood pressure, such as:
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- A blood test;
- An electrocardiogram;
- An echocardiogram;
- Tests for Vitamin deficiencies;
- Stress test;
- Endocrine tests (looking for a hormonal disorder).
