To wonder whether low blood pressure should be treated more often?

[largeprintagathachristie]

I’ve had some health stuff going on, and its’s reminded me that each time my blood pressure is taken, the nurse (or other medic) says: “Oh, thats’s low, is it usually like that?” and I say “yes” and thats it. My BP always, always low, and that’s tests in medical situations; I imagine I’m even lower most of the time.

I was always a fainter as a teen, I can see stars when I get up quickly, etc.

So I realise I have a naturally low blood pressure and clearly that’s better than high.

But my energy levels are awful and I feel as if I’ve been struggling with tiredness for decades (particularly since glandular fever in teens).

Do people have any experience of taking medication to raise blood pressure and did they then function much better?

i remember hearing anecdotally some years ago that it’s more common to medicate for low BP in Europe compared with the UK.

In terms of self-help, I’m definitely hydrated, and don’t hold back on my salt intake.

I don't know, tbh. Mine was always really low.
When I was last in hospital two nurses crept over & I opened my eyes & they said 'Oh! We thought you were dead!' ;-)
I don't know if mine's improved as I've got older & put some weight on, no-one remarks on it now other than to say it's ok..

I have this and now late 50's no dr's have ever worried. Getting up from lying down flat still makes me dizzy, i have learnt to never lie completely flat.

I suffer with low blood pressure but it's never caused my energy levels to drop.

sometimes things such as anaemia or dehydration can cause low blood pressure so if you have zero energy levels, may be work checking your iron levels if they haven't already. Low vitamin d can also cause fatigue

I have very very low blood pressure, it’s always commented on at the docs. Also extremely tired all the time

I’m the same. Very low. It was only vaguely normal towards the end of pregnancy

Mine’s low too, on the very edge of normal., I’ve fainted occasionally under stress. Learnt not to skip meals, had to stop donating blood. Take multivitamins if I catch myself not eating a balanced diet.

If I exercise regularly and eat lots my energy levels are pretty good for early 60s.

You can treat it yourself by wearing compression stockings, drinking lots of fluids and adding extra salt to your food.

The drugs used to treat hypotension have side effects that are probably more undesirable than the symptoms caused by low blood pressure. I have low BP, 85/55 some days, it’s exhausting, but I don’t want to take any of the available medications to fix it. Since all that it does is make me dizzy and there’s no cardiovascular associated with it, I’d rather just manage it myself.

Fludrocortisone is one of them; long term steroid use is immunosuppressive, amongst a massive list of other potential side effects and complications.

Midodrine is another drug - requires regular monitoring of renal and hepatic function as it can damage both liver and kidneys, is dangerous to unborn babies, can causes GI upset, chills, headaches, nausea, goosebumps, numbness/tingling, confusion, arrhythmias, etc.

*cardiovascular risk

My DH used to take midodrine for low blood pressure. He was prone to fainting (vasovagal syncope) so that's why he was medicated. I don't think the low blood pressure affected his energy levels or anything like that though.

Also, Midodrine - associated with supine hypertension, so you can end up with the opposite problem to the one you have, which does then present significant CV risk.

Might you have chronic fatigue? I also have low BP, am a fainter and had glandular fever as a teenager.

I also have very low blood pressure and a super low heart rate. It runs in the family. Am also tired a lot. I drink LOADS which helps. Lots of salt. Exercising a lot also helps.

It nearly killed me and DD- I had pre eclampsia but they didn't pick it up because my BP was high for me- but in the normal range for everyone else (luckily I went into a very fast early labour spontaneously).

Have you had sitting-standing blood pressure taken to rule out POTS?

Mine is also really low. I get dizzy standing up and had problems in both c sections with it dropping so low I needed medication. It gets commented on- nurses seem to assume im really sporty or something - im not!

Mine is low too and i also suffer from low O2 levels. I wonder if they are connected?

Whenever i get checked they are really worried. I think my norm is around 93%.

POTS needs checking out .Great information on the website.You need sitting and standing readings.Many GP s have very little knowledge of this so you need todo your own research.You can use your own readings by buying a monitor and asking for a referral.Tiredness and feeling out of it are symptoms .The website is POTS uk they have a helpline.Hope you find an answer because it is awfully hard to live with.

Mine used to be. I’m not sure now as not had it taken for awhile.

I've always had low BP about 90/60. It meant when I was prescribed some meds that had a side effect of lowering BP, I kept fainting. I remember after a fainting episode them taking my BP and it was something like 30/20. I've never seen a Dr move so fast to get me in an ambulance that drove me for 1 minute to A&E which was on the same site as the unit where I was!

I am tired all the time but I have an under active thyroid.