What is low blood pressure

What is low blood pressure?

Officially low blood pressure is defined as a systolic blood pressure reading less
than 90 and a diastolic level less than 60. This would usually be written as 90 / 60
- so a low reading might be 85 / 55 or any one of countless other number
combinations.

However, as you will have read elsewhere on this site, many people can have a
blood pressure less than 90 / 60 and will continue to feel entirely well with no
symptoms what so ever. Athletes and very fit individuals would be among them
since a highly trained heart and cardiovascular system will typically run at a lower
blood pressure than normal.

So, immediately, we have a bit of a problem with the definitions. My rule of thumb
is that a person is only "suffering from low blood pressure" when their readings
are less than 90 / 60 and when they have symptoms because of that. If your blood
pressure is low but you have no symptoms from it then you really shouldn't worry
because you are not at any increased risk of harm - and indeed you might be
protected from some common heart and blood vessel diseases.

Low blood pressure symptoms        Low blood pressure causes        Treatment for low
blood pressure        Pregnancy low blood pressure        Low blood pressure signs
Symptoms of high and low blood pressure       My blood pressure readings
Blood pressure normal

What is low blood pressure

The cause of low blood pressure

I like to keep things very simple when explaining health issues - so here is my idiots guide to the cause of
low blood pressure.

Your blood pressure level is created by the heart squeezing blood round the system. It will squeeze either
as hard as it can - or as hard as it needs to - whichever is the less.

Your blood pressure reading could be low because your heart doesn't need to squeeze any harder than that
to pump the blood around your body. This will happen if you are young, or fit and athletic, or pregnant, or on
some medications that act by reducing the resistance in the blood vessels.

Alternatively (and more seriously) your blood pressure reading could be low because your heart is unable to
generate any higher pressure. This type of low blood pressure is often seen after heart attacks or after
serious disease or injury. The damaged heart cant function properly and is unable to generate a hard
enough squeeze so the pressure in the system remains low.

People in the first group may well have no symptoms at all despite having a lower blood pressure than the
rest of us. People in the second group will probably feel unwell and show signs or symptoms of low blood
pressure.

Explore the rest of this site for more information about low blood pressure and how it can affect you.

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