Blood pressure - how low is too low?

[WillitFit]

For a long time I've suffered with dizzy spells when I stand up too quickly, but they seem to be getting worse and three times in the last 2 weeks, I've actually fainted, losing consciousness just for a moment. I'm 52 and I've never fainted before in my life.

The first time it happened was on a hot day and I was nursing a hangover, so I put it down to that, but there's been no "reason" the other times.

Out of interest, I've just done my blood pressure with a home monitor. 98/58, which according to Google is low, but the NHS "calculator" says is healthy.

Obviously I need to see someone, but I'm wondering if the blood pressure is likely to be behind it. I've always had low blood pressure, in so far as it's been monitored, it was always remarked as being "nice and low" when I was pregnant, for example, but I don't have a reference point to know if this is a change for me.

FWIW I tested positive for Covid 4 weeks ago, was quite ill for a while and this seems to have started since I recovered (although the dizzy spells go much further back). I don't know if that might be connected?

Just book yourself an appointment with a GP and tell them your bp.

I'm not an expert, you need advice from a healthcare professional.

A doctor at a walk in clinic told me the day before yesterday "GPs don't see patients anymore" so you may be asked to call 111 then be seen at a walk in clinic. So don't worry if you are actually not seen by a GP.

Nurse here, it's an individual thing....if you are having symptoms then it's too low for you so GP, postural hypotension. X

I have been to GP over the dizzy spells before and he practically laughed at me. I also have a very low resting heart rate, c. 38, and he couldn't have been less interested about that.

I'd see a different GP, not acceptable treatment, 38 is very low resting HR. X

Look at PoTS

I have the same issue, also occasional dizzy spells when I stand up but it's been like that pretty much all my life. When I was in hospital recently they kept waking me up in the night every hour until I rebelled because they said it was too low and they made me get up until they stressed me out so much it became higher and their computer was happy even though I kept explaining it was normal for me.

Pots?

I just looked up PoTS, thank you.

The NHS web site suggests printing their information and taking it with you to your appointment because many GPs won't know what it is. Really? Is that a thing? I can't imagine that going down well!

www.nhs.uk/conditions/postural-tachycardia-syndrome/

POTS is where you get an inappropriately high pulse on standing up so doesn’t sound like that. The low pulse is a concern. Keep a diary of your episodes to help identify patterns. Try drinking more water to help the BP

If I saw that bp reading I wouldn’t be worried as that’s normal for me. I have been lower than that at my gp office or in hospitals and it’s never been a concern. I’ve felt light headed upon standing up many times (since I can remember) I’ve been told that comes with having a low bp and unless I start passing out, I shouldn’t worry.
Once again, that’s my normal bp reading, however if you’ve had higher readings in the past, then I would get it checked out.

I’m early 40s btw and know my bp was low since my 20s.

If you have a home BP monitor you could test for postural hypotension. You lie down for at least 20 minutes. Test your BP lying then stand and test straight away, after 1 minute and after 3 minutes. If you have postural hypotension the systolic number will drop. This could potentially be what is causing you to feel dizzy and faint. The GP can prescribe medication to help this. This doesn't work from sitting to standing as your heart needs to be level with your fit in lying not about as they are in sitting.

A diary of readings and dizzyness might reveal some patterns. Maybe take bp and pulse at the same time each day for a week or so and track when dizzy spells happen. My bp is on the low end of healthy and I get dizzy if I’m a bit dehydrated. A daytime pulse of 40 or lower would be unusual but as nurse pp above said it’s what’s normal for you that matters.

It's both with POTS - low blood pressure and high heart rate on standing. My son has it post Covid and there's a school of thought that suggests Long Covid could actually be POTS (with added symptoms). It wasn't picked up on any of the multiple GP visits, only by the LC clinic.

Marvellous.

I've just had another "attack".

I jumped out of bed realising that we need to get moving for DS2's dentist appointment, went into his room (ie covered a bit of ground, it wasn't immediately on standing) felt woozy so braced myself between his chair and the wall and came round to him saying "are you OK?". I didn't faint to the ground, but I wasn't in the room for a moment iyswim.

I've just booked a GP appointment. Explained the issues (as they asked me to) and have the earliest possible appointment on 31 August!

You could try increasing your salt and fluid intake whilst you're waiting for the GP appointment? That helps DS a lot. Also small meals & regular snacks rather than 3 main meals a day.

Yes, I was already treating crisps as health food during the hot weather!

I wouldn't be all that worried about the low-ish BP. Mine tends to be around that. I'd be more bothered about the low resting heart rate, unless you are super fit and know it is normal for you. Our friend recently had to have a pacemaker fitted (as an emergency) with a heart rate of 33 and that was only picked up due to a routine test, not because he was getting any problems apart from a bit of tiredness.

I am very fit and have had this low heart rate for at least a decade.

I'm always like this. It's not so much about your resting blood pressure, more about the size of the drop when you stand up. Try clenching your arse cheeks when you stand up. And be careful standing up when you've recently exercised.

I might inquire about the heart rate, though — that's very low even for a fit person.

I've lived all my adult life with a blood pressure between 90/60 and 100/60. Wherever I go, I carry a bottle of water and a piece of bread in case I get dizzy. When I travel, Coca Cola is my best friend. I'm quite OK in autumn, spring and winter but summers are difficult (especially with this heat wave). Doctors always told me that the body gets used to low pressure and it does not consider it as an anomaly when it's all the time like this (stabile). The problematic situation is to have a normal bp and all of a sudden falling to 100/60, this is when the body reacts (fainting, dizziness).
Exercising helps me a lot.

Exactly the same happen to me, BP about where yours is and even lower at times. Because of the fainting, I was referred to cardiologist. It confirmed my low BP and RHR but there was nothing to do but stop caffeine, increase water consumption, no alcohol etc...

As it is, all this was due to anxiety triggered by perimenopause. I didn't consider anxiety then because I didn't feel mentally anxious, but dizziness, feeling lightheaded all the time and fainting at times were all part of anxiety and anxiety attacks.