Low blood pressure
The heart pumps blood around the body through the blood vessels. Blood pressure is the amount of force exerted on the artery walls by the pumping blood. Blood pressure varies according to environmental demands. For example, it rises during physical exertion and drops in extreme Hypotension, or low blood pressure, means that the pressure of blood circulating around the body is lower than normal, or lower than expected, given the environmental conditions. However, 'hypotension' is a relative term, since an individual may have low blood pressure compared to others of similar physical characteristics, but be perfectly healthy.
Low blood pressure is only a problem if it has a negative impact on the body. For example, vital organs (particularly the brain) may be starved of oxygen and nutrients if the blood pressure is too low for that particular individual.
Symptoms include:
- Lightheadedness, when standing from a sitting or lying position
- Unsteadiness
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- Blurred vision
- Fatigue
- Fainting.