BLOOD PRESSURE: how low is too low?

High blood pressure (hypertension) is pretty easy to define: Anything above 120/80 is abnormal. Low blood pressure is not so simple. There is no absolute number below which blood pressure is considered abnormally low.

To help you understand low blood pressure, it's useful to think of the arteries and veins as basically just a system of pipes that carry blood around the body. The heart is the pump that keeps the fluid moving. As long as there is enough pressure in the pipes to get the blood to where it's headed, the plumbing system is doing its job and there's nothing to worry about.

Low blood pressure is only a problem when there isn't enough pressure to get enough blood to a body part(s). The brain - probably the most sensitive organ - is pretty good at letting us know if it isn't getting enough blood.

The brain also happens to live at the very top of our bodies, which means it often temporarily loses some of its blood supply when we first stand up and gravity pulls everything (including our blood supply) down.

That dizzy or lightheaded sensation that happens when you get up quickly is your brain's reaction to low blood pressure. Fortunately, these symptoms usually pass in a few seconds as our bodies quickly respond with a faster heart rate and an increased blood pressure.

If your blood pressure is too low, however, it may take more than 10-15 seconds to recover after standing up. More severe low blood pressure can cause dizziness or lightheadedness even when you're not standing up.

And very low blood pressure can sometimes cause complete loss of consciousness because the brain isn't getting enough blood.

If you have these symptoms, you might have low blood pressure. The actual numbers can vary a lot, so it's no help to compare your blood-pressure numbers with other people's.

A person who recently began taking medicine for very high blood pressure might be dizzy even though his or her blood pressure is still above 120/80. On the other hand, many people feel just fine with a blood pressure of 80/50.

If your blood pressure is very low but not causing any symptoms, then there's nothing to worry about - congratulations. You are a long way away from having high blood pressure, and nothing else needs to be done.

But if you frequently feel lightheaded and dizzy, you should see your doctor. And don't automatically assume that your dizziness is always going to be a blood-pressure problem; many things other than low blood pressure can cause these symptoms.

The treatment for low blood pressure is usually pretty simple. Eating more salt and drinking more fluid works for most people. Some patients need to take salt tablets, or occasionally prescription medicine, to raise their blood pressure.

If you are taking medicine for high blood pressure and feeling dizzy or lightheaded, you might need a lower dose of the medicine, at least temporarily until your body adjusts to it. And if your medication is keeping your blood pressure well below 120/80, it's worth asking your doctor-even if you aren't having any symptoms or problems-if you can take less medicine to allow your blood pressure to run a little bit higher.

whaaa eat more salt after have kidnysitis... hehehe thank you for sharing a nice tips bro... more posting!!!

whiw low blood pers0n always felt dizzy, and is also bad,s0 we have t0 visit 0ur d0ctor or g0 to clinic for check up. . . thanks br0 t0os3r for sharing

blood pressure is a big problem ....
thnks for informing more about it .. ! keep it up !