Anyone can experience hypotension or low blood pressure. There are some forms of low blood pressure depending on certain factors and age that occur more frequently.
- Certain diseases – They can involve specific heart problems, diabetes and Parkinson’s disease that can cause you to be a high risk candidate for getting low blood pressure.
- Medications – Individuals who take certain medicines for their high blood pressure like alpha blockers have a higher chance of developing high blood pressure than those who don’t take these medicines
- Age – People 65 years and older are more prone to experience sudden drops in their blood pressure after eating or when standing up. This type of low blood pressure is called orthostatic hypotension. Postprandial hypotension, on the other hand, is experienced after one eats a meal. Another type of low blood pressure called neurally mediated hypotension occurs when there is poor communication function between the heart and the brain. Neurally mediated hypotension usually strikes younger adults as well as children.
For orthostatic hypotension the typical risk factors can include:
- Age – Seniors who are 65 years old and older are prone to this type of hypotension. This occurs when the baroreceptors near the neck arteries and the heart that help regulate blood pressure begin to weaken functionally. As one ages, the heart slowly loses the ability to beat faster that should compensate for falls in blood pressure.
- Pregnancy – Pregnancy causes a woman’s circulatory system to expand causing drops in her blood pressure. Sometimes the BP fall is low and fast enough to result in orthostatic hypotension when she tries to stand up quickly. Also, the expansion of the uterus during pregnancy can cause pressure to bear on the large veins located in the pelvic area causing poor blood flow.
- Bed rest – Staying in bed for long periods of time because of an ailment can make you weak. This can result in orthostatic hypotension when you try to stand up. The likelihood for orthostatic hypotension will likely vanish the moment you regain your good health and muscle strength.
- Certain diseases – Certain heart conditions and Parkinson’s disease are two health problems that put you on a high risk for orthostatic hypotension.
- Heat exposure – Being exposed to hot environments can cause dehydration because of constant sweating. This can allow your blood pressure to drop making you experience orthostatic hypotension.
- Medications – Those taking medicines for high blood pressure such as beta blockers have a high risk for developing orthostatic hypotension. Other drugs that can cause low blood pressure can include can tricyclic antidepressants, drugs for BPH or benign prostatic hyperplasia or Parkinson’s disease. Drugs like Viagra or Revatio (sildenafil) when combined with alcohol, narcotics or nitroglycerin can lead to low blood pressure. Also taking medicines for high blood pressure when combined with other over-the-counter and prescription medicines can also result in low blood pressure.
Harmony Wellness Center
110 N Orlando Ave
Maitland, FL 32751
(407) 234-6454
https://www.harmonywellnesscenter.com/