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Blood pressure is the pressure of blood on the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps
blood around your body. Blood pressure does not stay the same all the time. It changes to
meet your body's needs and it is normal for your blood pressure to go up and down
throughout the day.
Blood pressure is measured using two numbers:
The first number, called systolic blood pressure
This measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats.
The second number, called diastolic blood pressure
This measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart rests between beats.
What's considered low blood pressure for one person might be OK for someone else. Low
blood pressure might cause no noticeable symptoms, or it might cause dizziness and
fainting. Sometimes, low blood pressure can be life-threatening.
The causes of low blood pressure range from dehydration to serious medical conditions. Its
important to find out whats causing low blood pressure so that it can be treated at the root,
if necessary.
What are the symptoms of low blood pressure?
Dizziness or feeling lightheaded.
Fainting or passing out (syncope).
Nausea or vomiting.
Distorted or blurred vision.
Fast, shallow breathing.
Fatigue or weakness.
Feeling tired, sluggish or lethargic.
Confusion or trouble concentrating.
Hypotension (low blood pressure) can happen for a wide range of reasons. Causes of low
blood pressure include:
Orthostatic hypotension: This happens when you stand up too quickly and your
body can’t compensate with more blood flow to your brain.
Central nervous system diseases: Conditions like Parkinson’s disease can affect
how your nervous system controls your blood pressure. People with these conditions
may feel the effects of low blood pressure after eating because their digestive
systems use more blood as they digest food.
Low blood volume: Blood loss from severe injuries can cause low blood
pressure. Dehydration can also contribute to low blood volume.
Life-threatening conditions: These conditions include irregular heart rhythms
(arrhythmias), pulmonary embolism (PE), heart attacks and collapsed lung. Life-
threatening allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) or immune reactions to severe infections
(sepsis)Â can also cause hypotension.
Heart and lung conditions:Â You can get hypotension when your heart beats too
quickly or too slowly, or if your lungs aren’t working as they should. Advanced heart
failure (weak heart muscle) is another cause.
Prescription medications:Â Hypotension can happen with medications that
treat high blood pressure, heart failure, erectile dysfunction, neurological problems,
depression and more. Don’t stop taking any prescribed medicine unless your
provider tells you to stop.
Alcohol or recreational drugs:Â Recreational drugs can lower your blood pressure,
as can alcohol (for a short time). Certain herbal supplements, vitamins or home
remedies can also lower your blood pressure. This is why you should always include
these when you tell your healthcare provider what medications you’re taking.
Pregnancy: Orthostatic hypotension is possible in the first and second trimesters of
pregnancy. Bleeding or other complications of pregnancy can also cause low blood
pressure.
Extreme temperatures:Â Being too hot or too cold can affect hypotension and make
its effects worse.
High blood pressure is a common condition that affects the bodys arteries. Its also called
hypertension. If you have high blood pressure, the force of the blood pushing against the
artery walls is consistently too high. The heart has to work harder to pump blood.
People with very high blood pressure (usually 180/120 or higher) can experience symptoms
including:
severe headaches.
chest pain.
dizziness.
difficulty breathing.
nausea.
vomiting.
blurred vision or other vision changes.
anxiety.
You might be more at risk if you:
are overweight
eat too much salt and do not eat enough fruit and vegetables
do not do enough exercise
drink too much alcohol or coffee (or other caffeine-based drinks)
smoke
have a lot of stress
are over 65
have a relative with high blood pressure
are of black African or black Caribbean descent
live in a deprived area
Health conditions that can cause high blood pressure include:
kidney disease
diabetes
long-term kidney infections
sleep apnea – where the walls of the throat relax and narrow during sleep,
interrupting normal breathing
glomerulonephritis – damage to the tiny filters inside the kidneys
narrowing of the arteries supplying the kidneys
hormone problems – such as an underactive thyroid, an overactive thyroid.
lupus – a condition in which the immune system attacks parts of the body, such as
the skin, joints and organs
scleroderma – a condition that causes thickened skin, and sometimes problems with
organs and blood vessels
Medicines that can increase your blood pressure include:
the contraceptive pill
steroids
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) – such
as ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen
some pharmacy cough and cold remedies
some herbal remedies – particularly those containing liquorice
some recreational drugs – such as cocaine and amphetamines
some selective serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor
(SSNRI) antidepressants – such as venlafaxine
Did you know that a new study in the journal Hypertension finds SARS-CoV-2 infection is
significantly associated with the development of high blood pressure in adults with
preexisting heart conditions or those who were older, Black or male?
The study went as follows:
An analysis of more than 45,000 people infected with SARS-CoV-2 found a significant association between the virus and the development of persistent high blood pressure among those with no prior history of high blood pressure.
In addition, people with COVID-19 infection and no history of high blood pressure were significantly more likely to develop persistent high blood pressure compared to people with the influenza virus.
People with COVID-19 who are over age 40, men, Black adults or those with preexisting conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary artery disease or chronic kidney disease, had an elevated risk of developing high blood pressure, according to the study.
The analysis found:
21% of people hospitalized with COVID-19 and 11% of those who were not hospitalized for COVID-19 developed high blood pressure, compared to 16% of people hospitalized with influenza and 4% of those not hospitalized for influenza.
People hospitalized for COVID-19 were more than twice as likely and those not hospitalized are 1.5 times more likely to develop persistent hypertension compared to people hospitalized and non-hospitalized with influenza, respectively.
People infected with SARS-CoV-2 who were over 40 years old, men, Black adults or those with preexisting conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary artery disease or chronic kidney disease, had an elevated risk of developing high blood pressure.
Persistent high blood pressure was more common among people infected with SARS-CoV-2 who were treated with vasopressor and corticosteroid medications during the pandemic.Â
So what to do?
As we can see there are many different reasons for your blood pressure to
be either high or low. It is always better to find out why this is the case – this is where we
can help. Our testing can get to the root cause. If you are concerned about your blood
pressure, please get in touch to make an appointment.
We also have many great products available to aid in either high or low blood pressure :
Essential Health Circulation Assist
Essential Health Magnesium Glycinate Powder
DNA Veno Fast
Willow Nattokinaise
Herbay Low Blood Pressure
Herbay Anaemia Drops
Herbay Circulation Caps
Essential Health Healthy Lungs
Take a look at our online store for some amazing supplements for your blood pressure and overall wellness.
If you need any help please contact us on 0836549943
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