Low Blood Pressure - Hypotension causes, symptoms and home remedies

Low blood pressure - low blood pressure

Low blood pressure - Women, especially young girls in puberty, suffer from it. Often this, if there are no other symptoms of hypotension, can be eliminated with simple means. Many women come to terms with their low blood pressure and know how to deal with it. Values ​​below 100/60 mmHg should be clarified by a physician and are considered too low.

Especially at high temperatures, high humidity or generally in changing weather, many people suffer from hypotension. In contrast to hypertension (high blood pressure), which is a risk to the body, low blood pressure alone is usually harmless unless it occurs in conjunction with serious illnesses. Low scores are not a disease in principle. However, when symptoms, such as dizziness, blackening in front of the eyes to the point of short fainting added, the cause must necessarily be gone to the cause of medical attention.

contents

• Low blood pressure - low blood pressure
• definition
• causes
• Various forms of hypotension
• symptoms
• Diagnosis of low blood pressure
• Conventional therapy
• Naturopathy treatment
• Proven home remedies and self-help for hypotension
• The right nutrition for low blood pressure
• Stimulate the circulation

definition

In medicine, hypotension is mentioned when there are low blood pressure values ​​for a long time, which are below 100/60 mmHg (systolic / diastolic value in millimeters of mercury) and below 110/60 mmHg in men. The phenomenon is therefore not a disease, but a measured value. This does not have to be treated forcibly, except for concomitant complaints caused by the reduced perfusion of the peripheral organs. Many people live with existing low blood pressure levels without the need for therapy.

Low blood pressure often affects young women. From a medical point of view, they have hypotension if blood pressure levels below 100/60 mmHg persist for a long time. (Picture: Picture-Factory / fotolia.com)

causes

The causes can be many factors, ranging from dehydration to genetic predisposition to chronic diseases of the metabolism or heart. Organic causes should be excluded in the course of the diagnosis unconditionally.

Often, genetic factors are the cause of low blood pressure. For example, the mother passes this predisposition on to her daughter. In general, the time of puberty for many girls, especially when they are very slim and still growing fast, is often associated with vertigo attacks due to low blood pressure. But also pregnant women and older, leaner people are prone to hypotension. A lack of physical activity and fresh air as well as a lack of fluid increase the symptom.

Various disorders can occur in conjunction. These are, for example, diseases of the heart, the vessels, dysfunction of the thyroid, diabetes mellitus and acute infections. Long bed-rest and hypovolemia (lack of fluids), but also hyponatremia (salt loss) can lead to hypotension.

Various forms of hypotension

Low blood pressure levels can be divided into three different types:

Essential hypotension
This is low blood pressure with no apparent cause. Essential hypotension is common, especially in young women. This form alone does not constitute a disease.

Symptomatic hypotension
Symptomatic hypotension is a symptom of severe underlying disease. Diseases such as heart failure, adrenocortical insufficiency, aortic stenosis, hypovolemia usually accompany a low blood pressure. Prolonged bedtime or the use of various medications, such as diuretics (water-repellent drugs), psychotropic drugs (drugs for mental illness) or antihypertensive drugs (high blood pressure) often have the symptomatic form.

Orthostatic dysregulation
A sudden change of position from lying to standing can lead to a drop in blood pressure. This is called orthostatic dysregulation. This is often the case in pubescent girls, but also in older patients. Especially geriatric patients with existing arteriosclerosis and diminished elasticity of the blood vessels have to deal with the problems of low blood pressure caused by a quick change of position. In some cases, this is exacerbated by the use of certain medications, such as high blood pressure in the elderly.

Disturbances of the autonomic nervous system, such as may occur in diabetes mellitus, nerve cell damage in the brain and varicose veins sometimes lead to orthostatic dysregulation.

Typical symptoms of low blood pressure include dizziness, headache and fatigue. (Image: Antonioguillem / fotolia.com)

symptoms

Often sufferers complain about poor performance and concentration, fatigue and dizziness. In addition, low-blood pressure patients often become black when they have to get up or stand for a long time. Symptoms also include occasional brief unconsciousness, depression, facial blanching, chills, pricks in the heart or chest pain.

However, low values ​​do not necessarily have to be manifested by health complaints. Many affected patients live well with their hypotension, completely without conventional or herbal medication.

Diagnosis of low blood pressure

To make the diagnosis, the blood pressure must be repeated on both arms and at different times of the day, preferably over a longer period of time. Furthermore, the Schellong test is useful for the diagnosis. The patient must first lie on his back for ten minutes. Resting pulse and blood pressure are recorded. Then the patients stand up quickly and stand for ten minutes. Here, the pulse and blood pressure are checked and noted every minute. Thereafter, the patient is allowed to lie down again and both are measured until the initial values ​​are reached again.

Conventional therapy

If there is an underlying disease, it is treated. Essential hypotension, where low levels have no identifiable cause, is only treated in severe cases with drugs such as dihydroergotamine or sympathomimetics.

Since the essential form usually does not represent anything serious, the patients should definitely be informed about this. Suitable physical applications can often be remedied. For example, measures such as regular Kneipp's pouring or sports serve to train the circulation and stabilize it. In existing varicose veins, the wearing of compression stockings prevents the blood in the legs from sagging.

In order to find out whether hypotension is present, the blood pressure has to be measured repeatedly over a longer period of time. (Image: torsak / fotolia.com)

Naturopathy treatment

Low blood pressure generally responds quite well to naturopathy. In the foreground here is a general toning of the whole body.

Many sufferers are simply afraid that it could make them dizzy. Just the knowledge to carry a suitable agent with you often helps you to get over it. Natural remedies, such as essential rosemary oil, which is inhaled when needed, are a great help. Mixed preparations containing hawthorn and camphor are also a suitable home and on-the-go emergency remedy.

In naturopathic practice, so-called diversion methods are often used for low blood pressure. These help the body to release accumulated toxins and slags to the outside. Here are methods such as dry cupping used. In this process, cupping glasses are applied to certain parts of the body, often the back. Due to the resulting vacuum, the glasses suck. This causes a general circulation, an increased lymph flow and a strengthening of the vegetative system.

Homeopathy also has several remedies available to help with hypotension. A detailed medical history should help to determine the right individual remedy. Examples are Pulsatilla, Sepia, Calcarea, Gelsemium, Veratrum album and Lachesis. Complex agents, that is middle compositions, can also lead to the desired success.

In order not to overload the circulation, hypotension patients should not get up abruptly in the morning, but should get up slowly. (Image: yuriyzhuravov / fotolia.com)

Proven home remedies and self-help for hypotension

People suffering from recurring low blood pressure, a certain "stimulating" lifestyle is recommended. These include daily change showers, a brush massage with a loofah glove, a healthy breakfast with a cup of black or green tea. Regular cardiovascular training by walking or jogging should be integrated into everyday life. The measures mentioned do not work overnight. However, the regularity and consistency pay off here.

Those affected should get used to not getting up too fast. It is recommended to sit up for a while first, to circle with your feet or to move your toes and then slowly to get up.

When standing, it helps to activate the muscles by rocking the balls of the feet or clawing and stretching the toes. Incidentally, the latter can be done anywhere without anyone noticing. This is particularly helpful if a longer standing, for example, at the supermarket or at the butcher, can not be prevented. Crossing your legs is also a good helpful method.

Mother Nature has many plants ready to stimulate and strengthen the circulation. These include rosemary, hawthorn, ginseng, wormwood and gentian. Rosemary as an essential oil, when used in an aroma lamp, can stimulate the circulation. Important: Rosemary should therefore never be evaporated in the presence of a hypertensive patient.

Negative stress causes the blood pressure to rise first. However, if sustained stress arises, this can lead to a drop in blood pressure. Here life needs a different input. The way of life should be reconsidered, negative thinking transformed into positive, and regular relaxation provided. Relaxation exercises such as autogenic training or meditation can be quite helpful here. Even better are stress-relieving techniques such as Tai Chi or Quigong involving physical activity.

Ginger stimulates blood circulation and keeps the circulation going. (Image: pilipphoto / fotolia.com)

The right nutrition for low blood pressure

A promising treatment also always includes the diet. Heavy meals put a strain on the organism, so light food and plenty of fluid intake should be taken into account. So the daily drinking should not fall below the limit of two liters, and preferably in the form of still water. We recommend a full-fledged diet with plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits. The seasoning must also be mentioned, as spicy foods can have a positive influence on the circulation.

So sharp, like chili or ginger, the cycle gets going. The traditional Chinese medicine refers to low blood pressure with a void state, in which should be toned by appropriate foods, the body. For breakfast, a cereal made from rice, oats and polenta, cooked with figs, nuts, dates and raisins and seasoned with cloves and / or cinnamon. Some honey not only sweetens the whole thing but also contributes to general tonification. Acupuncture is also commonly used in low blood pressure in Traditional Chinese Medicine today.

Stimulate the circulation

Already Pastor Kneipp took care of people with low blood pressure. Changing showers, Kneipp castings of the legs and arms were then the means of choice and are also used successfully again today. The day should not start with a jolt from the bed but slowly. Biking with your legs lying down is a good start in the morning. After a careful erection, ideally, a glass of water is drunk on the bed, which should help the circulation on the jumps.

If you are prone to low blood pressure, regular exercise in the fresh air and endurance sports, such as jogging, hiking, swimming or cycling should be integrated into everyday life. A holiday in the stimulating climate, for example to the North Sea, can also support the cycle.

Hypotension usually poses no risk to the organism. However, if the quality of life is massively reduced, a doctor or alternative practitioner should be consulted. (sw, last updated on 21.11.2017)
Specialist supervision: Barbara Schindewolf-Lensch (doctor)