Blood pressure health advice

Blood pressure refers to the force on the blood vessels by the blood circulating inside them and is generated by the rate the blood is pumped into the vessels by the heart. The normal blood pressure of an adult is 120/80 (systolic/diastolic). Low blood pressure refers to the condition where the pressure of the blood circulating in the blood vessels is so low that it causes visible signs and symptoms.


Hypotension or low blood pressure is defined more by these symptoms rather than the actual pressure number (unlike hypertension). Thus someone with a pressure of 90/50 but no symptoms does not have hypotension, but someone with a pressure of 100/60 who exhibits symptoms is diagnosed with low blood pressure.

The main causes of low blood pressure are conditions that reduce the volume of blood circulating in the system and even certain medications.


Hypotension is also caused by certain heart problems, hormone problems, thyroid disease, certain disorders of the nervous system, anaemia and nutritional deficiencies. Hypotension is even observed in the first and second trimester of pregnancy and in old age. While exercise normally increases the blood pressure, intense exercise that is not supervised can lead to low blood pressure. Exercise can lead to low blood pressure if the water and salt lost during exercise is not replaced. Dehydration is one of the leading causes of low blood pressure and it manifests itself with thirst, followed by light-headedness, dizziness, weakness and even fainting.