Low blood pressure and dizziness
introduction
Who does not know it? Frequent dizziness in the worst of situations can be uncomfortable and potentially dangerous. But not only then, but for example after getting up quickly, dizziness occurs. The reasons for this are varied and cannot always be clearly stated. The actual cause can also be masked by other symptoms. However, low blood pressure is a common cause. If possible, the low blood pressure should be clarified and treated. Therapy encompasses many options and ranges from conservative, drug-free therapy to supportive measures such as compression stockings and drug therapy.
Why does low blood pressure cause dizziness?
Low blood pressure does not necessarily lead to dizziness. Dizziness can also be triggered by other illnesses.
Also, low blood pressure is not considered a disease in many countries. However, dizziness is more common with low blood pressure. Roughly speaking, this is related to the fact that the brain and other important organs are not adequately supplied with oxygen for a short, but sometimes longer period of time.
The causes for the low blood pressure are diverse and range from physical inactivity to hormonal causes or infections to poor heart pumping or vegetative causes due to damage to the body's own receptors.
With all causes, however, the blood vessels do not pump enough blood into the affected organ (the brain).
This leads to an insufficient supply of the cells for a while, which, however, have a high need for oxygen and are very sensitive to an undersupply, which means that they are not fully functional for a short time.
Despite everything, low blood pressure can have positive effects on the body and be a sign of a healthy, active lifestyle.
Read more about this under: Low blood pressure
Which accompanying symptoms still occur frequently?
Probably the most common accompanying symptoms in rapidly onset dizziness caused by low blood pressure are:
- Palpitations,
- Shortness of breath,
- brief loss of consciousness
- A headache,
- Vision problems,
- Unsteadiness of gait,
- Pallor and tiredness.
In the case of the racing heart, this can be explained by the body trying to compensate. The other symptoms are also caused by an insufficient supply of oxygen. In addition, concentration problems, a tightness in the chest, a depressed mood, ringing in the ears or a decreased appetite and high irritability can occur.
Read more about the topic at: Symptoms of low blood pressure
Fast pulse
A fast pulse, also known as tachycardia in technical terms, is a typical accompanying symptom that occurs with low blood pressure.
A low blood pressure precedes the rapid pulse.
The reason for this rapid pulse is that the body tries to maintain the blood supply to the organs to compensate for the low blood pressure.
If blood pressure drops quickly, it is usually referred to as blood sinking into the smaller vessels of the human body. This means that only a small flow of blood leads back to the heart and a large proportion of the blood cannot be pumped through the heart, since it is located in the vascular system due to the suddenly enlarged arterial vessels.
However, in order to be able to supply the vital organs with oxygen, the heart is stimulated to a faster beating or pulse. As a result, the blood flow from the heart to the main artery is partially increased and a larger amount of blood and thus oxygen is available. Depending on the extent of the low blood pressure or its values, the pulse can reach a frequency of up to 200 beats per minute.
Read more on the subject below. Low blood pressure and high pulse
nausea
Nausea is also a common symptom of low blood pressure. Nausea usually occurs in connection with headaches, visual disturbances, weakness or dizziness. The nausea can be limited to a brief moment.
However, the nausea associated with low blood pressure can also make you feel uncomfortable for several minutes or even vomit. The cause of the nausea that occurs is also a reduced blood flow to the brain.
The oxygen deficiency plays the main role here. The brain cells are very sensitive to a reduced supply of oxygen. If there is a lack of oxygen for their energy production, it can very quickly lead to a temporary loss of part of their function, which is why the brain cells fail if there is insufficient blood flow.
Read more about this under: Low blood pressure and nausea
fatigue
Fatigue is also a common symptom associated with low blood pressure.
In most cases, the low blood pressure has to persist for a period longer than a few hours or a few days. However, fatigue does not affect everyone with long-term low blood pressure. It can also be that it only shows up irregularly.
The causes of fatigue can still be more diverse than low blood pressure alone. However, the explanation for fatigue with low blood pressure is that there is an undersupply of the brain and organs.
Affected people are, for example, tired immediately after getting up or have to rest several times a day. The performance is also significantly reduced and they are not as resilient as healthy people. In addition, fatigue is often associated with decreased concentration and a poorer response.
If tiredness persists for a long time and cannot be explained, you should consult a doctor to clarify possible serious causes.
a headache
Headache is a commonly observable symptom associated with low blood pressure.
The headache can manifest itself in many forms and persist for a short or long period.
This also depends on whether the low blood pressure is short or long term. Here, too, however, the headache can have other causes. As with the other symptoms, the explanation for the headache is a reduced blood flow to the brain, which ultimately leads to an insufficient supply of oxygen to the brain cells.
Read more about this under: Low blood pressure and headaches
What can I do about low blood pressure and dizziness?
The therapy options for low blood pressure and the associated dizziness are very diverse and range from conservative, drug-free therapy to supportive measures such as compression stockings and drug therapy. Conservative therapy includes, for example, a lifestyle change.
More attention can be paid to exercising and switching to endurance sports. Breaks when getting up or alternating baths are also helpful. You should also drink enough fluids and consume salt. Caffeine can also stimulate the circulation.
If none of this is helpful, drug therapy can be considered. As soon as the low blood pressure is treated well for the first time, there is usually no more dizziness.
Read more on the topic at: Low Blood Pressure and Headaches, You Can Do That
Medication
Since the drugs used to treat low blood pressure, like most drugs, have side effects, they are avoided if possible and conservative therapy is tried first.
The cause of the low blood pressure must also be found, and the therapy is based on this.
Mainly two drugs are used: Etilefrine, a sympathomimetic, and dihydroergotamine.
Some of the two active ingredients are also used to treat dizziness or other typical accompanying symptoms associated with low blood pressure.
For more information on etilefrine, see Effortil®.
Home remedies
The home remedies that are used to treat low blood pressure are all under conservative therapy. Everything is used that gets the circulation going and can stabilize it in the long term.
For example, you can start to move slightly and prepare your body for it before you get up. Breaks when standing up can also prevent the blood from sinking and thus low blood pressure.
Sport, and especially endurance sport, should be able to prevent dizziness in the long term. Alternating baths or Kneipp sessions are also said to have a circulatory stimulating effect. So-called compression stockings are also helpful. They prevent the circulating blood from permanently sinking into the vessels of the leg, in which the vessels are compressed and the blood is pressed back to the heart.
Drinking enough fluids is an important factor in raising blood pressure over the long term. This effect is reinforced by an increased intake of salt. However, caution should be exercised here, as this can also increase the blood pressure too much, which can have several negative consequences.
Read more about this under: Home remedies for low blood pressure
homeopathy
Since homeopathy is based on natural substances, some of which are also found in foods such as coffee or tea, a positive effect on blood pressure can be observed when such agents are used correctly.
In doing so, attention should be paid to the instructions of the treating homeopath. As with any therapy, however, the benefit often depends on the cooperation and even on the patient's belief in the success of the therapy.
For details, see Homeopathy for low blood pressure.
