Can someone please tell me about low blood pressure?

[FrannyandZooey]

I have fairly low blood pressure (100/70) and when I stand up I usually feel faint for a few seconds. I sort of thought this was normal and happened to everyone, but dp says it isn't, and I am wondering if the two are connected and if I should / can do anything about it?

if your blood pressure is low, then getting up too fast can lerave you dizzy and maybe somethign black outs.

I have a similar bp, and feeling faint is part and parcel of it.

Not sure if there's anything that can be done, as I have never looked into it, but AFAIK, it's not too harmful, and is far better to have low rather than high bp.

Please feel free to tell me I am wrong.

No that is what I wanted to hear, walrus

Let's hope someone comes along and says for sure we are right

Here you go

Might be worth getting it checked, but it's probably nothing to worry about. My bp was consistently v low in both pregnancies, and there was never any worry about it.

I have this a bit, particularly lately. Well, I get v dizzy and often can't see for a moment after standing up. I find it is much worse if I'm getting up from a child chair, rather than a regular chair.

Um, I haven't bothered going to the doctor's for it, though.

you are ok as long as you dont whack your head on the way down.

It isn't harmful, there is no treatment (except in Germany, in germany ,for some reason, it is treated!)

Just take your time when you stand up

What you are describing is called 'postural hypotension' aka low bp when you change position aka getting dizzy when you stand up

Thanks MB

Low blood pressure is actually more dangerous than high blood pressure cos with the high blood pressure you can control it with tabs etc but with low blood pressure you cant.

ive got high and my dp got low!

I think perhaps to describe my blood pressure as low was a mistake, sorry - it is towards the lower end, AFAIK. Actual 'low blood pressure' is a medical problem and can be dangerous as you say biglips. I hope you and your dp are ok.

most low bp is benign tho, there are rare cases when it does become a problem.

When it does there are things that they can give you....I had some during my last c section, as my bp had dropped into my boots. But there are no easily given tablets, as there are for high bp.

Hmmm. My bp is usually around 100/60, didn't realise that was low...you learn something every day...

(its all those bananas, you see)

Message withdrawn

pruni, if you are "run-down" you are more likely to be bordering anaemic (hence feeling run-down), rather than suffering from low bp. Mine is 100/60. Its lower end of the scale, but it is not considered low in a medical sense. When my bp went up to 120/85 when pg - that was considered high - for me - its horses for courses really. Another one of those WHO "guidelines".

I was nearly hospitalised with bp of 130/85 when pg...which suprised everyone...this is all starting to make more sense now.

I had mine taken last week, 100/60. The doctor just said, fantastic, it's great.

My dd (now 16) has had probs with low bp since she was about 14 - I was woken up one morning by her screaming 'Mummy I've gone blind!' Her sight returned after a few seconds when she sat down, but it was terrifying. The doctor said she had low bp & postural hypotension. She wasn't anaemic, but he suggested she should increase her carbohydrate intake, and also recommended more salt (much to dd's delight as she adores bacon & we'd never let her have as much as she wanted)
Over the next couple of years we discovered that she would faint or get dizzy whenever she was coming down with a bug or a cold -as this will lower her bp still further.
My mum also had abnormally low blood pressure - when she was a nurse they used to use her as a test for the students, as if they returned a normal pressure they knew they'd cheated!
If it's a problem F&Z I'd make sure you get regular small carbohydrate snacks, but I'm not sure about increasing the salt intake without a medical recommendation; several people have been horrified at the doc. 'prescribing' more salt for dd, but tbh she does seem better for it.

This is quite good.

I see that site does suggest increasing salt intake as a possible treatment - good news for the bacon fan!

btw peters blood pressure is usually around 88/50-60. he has to get up slowly. he used to have high blood pressure and an erratic heart beat. he scares 'new' docs with his low bp.

mine hovers round the 80/60 which does make me feel very giddy most of the time I get up too fast or out of the bath... during pregnancy it stayed constantly low but docs never seemed to0 concerned... I do feel need for carbs which can help.. but it is a family problem and I was told that low BP is way way way more preferable to high... so would rather have the giddy spells and reduced risks of illness caused by high if that makes sense... plus it means bacon sarnies are actually medicinal!!

My DD has hypotension and as well as plenty of carbohydrate snacks we were also told to ensure that she has a good fluid intake too.

FanZ, mine is low, typically 90/50 and not much higher when pg. I had a chronic illness for a year in my early twenties and it dropped even lower - and did I learn to stand up slowly during that time? Did I buggery ! My friends, however, learnt to catch me

Still find even now that if I have been kneeling on the floor then go straight to standing I will go "black" (lose vision) but don't actually faint.

It's not "normal" but it's not dangerous (unless as Misdee says you bang your head on the way down!! )

the 'normal' range of BP is 120/70. i would actually have said to patients that was ok. fitness, bmi and other factors have a bearing. mine is often low 100/60 90/60 and when pregant was very low.tbh i would rather have low than high hth