When your blood pressure drops too low

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In some cases, your blood pressure can drop too low, just as it can rise too high. Low blood pressure, called hypotension, can be life-threatening if it falls to dangerously low levels. However, this is rare.

Chronic low blood pressure —BP that’s below normal but not hazardously so — is fairly common. It can result from factors such as high blood pressure medications, complications of diabetes, and the second trimester of pregnancy.

A potentially dangerous side effect of chronic hypotension is postural hypotension, a condition in which you feel dizzy or faint when you stand up too quickly. In the action of standing up, the force of gravity will cause blood to pool in your legs, producing a sudden drop in blood pressure.

Typically, your body counteracts a sudden pressure decrease by narrowing your blood vessels and increasing the blood flow from your heart. When your BP is chronically low, however, it takes longer for your body to respond to the change. Postural hypotension is more common with advanced age as nerve signals, and regulatory system responses slow down.

You can often avoid this problem by standing up slowly and holding on to something while you stand. Wait a few seconds after standing and before you try to walk so that your body can adjust to the pressure change.

Some older adults, particularly those on medication for high BP, may risk fainting or falling after eating a meal. The cause can be a drop in BP. If you’ve experienced falling or fainting after a meal, take steps to prevent this by eating slowly and avoiding large meals. After you eat, rest for an hour.

See your doctor if you experience persistent dizziness or fainting. You may have another health condition causing the symptoms or making them worse than usual.

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