Indications of blood pressure issues

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The symptoms of blood pressure issues are not always evident. An increase in the blood pressure or hypertension usually has no indications or symptoms and an individual can have high blood pressure for many years without even knowing about it. Similarly, hypotension or low blood pressure has a few indications. On the other hand, if not assessed early, blood pressure issues can cause significant adverse health effects.

Dizziness and fainting

It is important to note that dizziness and fainting might indicate hypotension or low blood pressure. Even though low blood pressure might seem to be an advantage, it can trigger symptoms of dizziness and fainting or even indicate the presence of serious underlying heart, neurological or endocrinal conditions.

Severely low blood pressure can deprive the brain and vital organs of blood, essential nutrients and oxygen which can lead to a life-threatening condition called as shock.

Orthostatic hypotension is a type of low blood pressure that occurs when an individual stands up after being seated or lying down for extended periods. Orthostatic hypotension can cause feelings of dizziness and can even lead to fainting. The typical causes of orthostatic hypotension include heart problems, adrenal deficiency, diabetes and certain nervous system disorders such as Parkinson’s disease.

Dehydration and thirst

Low-blood-pressure
t is important to note that dizziness and fainting might indicate hypotension or low blood pressure.

Dehydration and unusual thirst are indications of low blood pressure. Take note that dehydration is considered as a potentially life-threatening condition where the body loses more water than what is taken in. This causes the blood pressure to drop but dehydration does will not always indicate low blood pressure.

The usual triggers of dehydration include fever, use of diuretics, vomiting, severe diarrhea and vigorous exercise. It is important to note that even mild dehydration such as a loss of 1-2% of body weight can cause dizziness, weakness and fatigue.

Hypovolemic shock is the most severe difficulty of dehydration that occurs once the low blood volume in the body initiates a sudden drop in the blood pressure and a drastic reduce in the amount of oxygen that reaches the cells, organs and tissues. If not treated, hypovolemic shock can cause death in just a matter of minutes.

Erratic blood pressure reading

An unusual blood pressure reading is a distinctive sign of a blood pressure issue. An individual should know his/her blood pressure numbers even if he/she feels fine. In case the blood pressure of the individual is normal, he/she can consult a doctor to maintain a healthy reading.

If the reading is too low or too high, the doctor might provide a treatment plan to normalize the values as well as avoid organ damage or treat any underlying health issues.

The blood pressure reading includes the systolic and diastolic pressures. The systolic pressure or upper number indicates the pressure on the arterial walls when the heart beats. As for the diastolic pressure or bottom number, it represents the pressure when the heart is at rest in between beats.

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