What is Hypotension, its causes and treatment

In physiology and medicine]hypotension is abnormally low blood pressure condition.This is not a disease, but rather a physiologic state. The opposite is hypertension, or high blood pressure. Blood pressure is the force of blood gushing through the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps out blood. When the pressure is below 90/60mmHg, which is considered low, this condition is known as low blood pressure or hypotension.

Blood pressure is continuously regulated by the autonomic nervous system, using an elaborate networks of receptors, nerves and hormones to balance the effects of the Sympathetic nervous system, which tends to raise blood pressure, and the parasympathetic nervous system, which lowers the blood pressure, The vast and rapid compensation abilities of the autonomic nervous system allow normal individuals to maintain an acceptable blood pressure over a wide range of activities and emotions.

Symptoms of hypotension:
The symptoms of hypotension is light headedness or dizziness.If the pressure is too low, fainting and seizures will occur.Among others,low blood pressure or hypotension is associated with the following symptoms, which are not effects of hypotension, rather related to causes of low blood pressure.
a]Chest pain
b]shortness of breath
c]high fever
d]stiff neck
e]foul-smelling urine.

Causes:
Low blood pressure causes can be due to, among others,
1]Hormonal changes
2]widening of the blood vessels
3]Medicine side effects
4]Heart and endocrine problems


Types:
1]Orthostatic hypotension, also know as 'postural hypotension', is common.It occurs when the body
changes its position after a while, like standing up from a seated or lying position.Even antidepressants can have this side effect.If there is a drop of 20/10mmHg in blood pressure,this will indicate hypotension.
2]Another, but very rare type is called postprandial hypotension, which occurs 30-60 minutes after eating a substantial meals.Here a huge quantity of blood is diverted to the intestines, thus negating blood to other vital parts,such as brain.

3]Low blood pressure from faulty brain signals (neurally mediated hypotension). This disorder causes blood pressure to drop after standing for long periods, leading to symptoms such as dizziness, nausea and fainting.

Neurally mediated hypotension mostly affects young people, and it seems to occur because of a miscommunication between the heart and the brain. When you stand for extended periods, your blood pressure falls as blood pools in your legs. Normally, your body then makes adjustments to normalize your blood pressure. But in people with neurally mediated hypotension, nerves in the heart's left ventricle actually signal the brain that blood pressure is too high, rather than too low, and so the brain lessens the heart rate, decreasing blood pressure even further. This causes more blood to pool in the legs and less blood to reach the brain, leading to lightheadedness and fainting.

4]Low blood pressure due to nervous system damage (multiple system atrophy with orthostatic hypotension). Also called Shy-Drager syndrome, this rare disorder causes progressive damage to the autonomic nervous system, which controls involuntary functions such as blood pressure, heart rate, breathing and digestion. Although this condition can be associated with muscle tremors, slowed movement, problems with coordination and speech, and incontinence, its main characteristic is severe orthostatic hypotension in combination with very high blood pressure when lying down. Multiple system atrophy can't be cured and usually proves fatal within seven to 10 years of diagnosis.

Treatment:
The treatment for hypotension depends on its cause. Adding electrolytes to a diet can relieve symptoms of mild hypotension.For rare and severe cases hospitalization is recommended.

RaghuNatrajan