Key Points

• Hypotension is low blood pressure. Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps out blood.
• Normal blood pressure in adults is lower than 120/80 mmHg. Hypotension is blood pressure that’s lower than 90/60 mmHg.
• Some people have low blood pressure all the time. They have no signs or symptoms and their low readings are normal for them. In other people, certain conditions or factors cause blood pressure to drop below normal.
• In a healthy person, low blood pressure without signs or symptoms usually isn’t a problem and needs no treatment.
• The three main types of hypotension that causes signs and symptoms are orthostatic hypotension, neurally mediated hypotension (NMH), and severe hypotension linked to shock.
• Orthostatic hypotension is low blood pressure that occurs after standing up from a sitting or lying down position. With NMH, blood pressure drops after you’ve been standing for a long time or due to severe emotional stress. Shock is a life-threatening condition in which blood pressure drops so low that the brain, kidneys, and other vital organs can’t get enough blood to work properly. Many factors can cause shock, such as major blood loss, certain severe infections, severe burns and allergic reactions, and poisoning. Shock can be fatal if not treated right away.
• Factors or conditions that disrupt the body’s ability to control blood pressure cause hypotension. The different types of hypotension have different causes.
• Hypotension can affect people of all ages. Older adults are more likely to have orthostatic and postprandial hypotension. Children and young adults are more likely to have NMH.
• The signs and symptoms of orthostatic hypotension and NMH include dizziness or feeling lightheaded, blurry vision, confusion, weakness, and nausea (feeling sick to your stomach). You may feel as though you’re going to faint, or you may actually faint. Both of these types of hypotension can be dangerous if a person falls because of the dizziness or fainting.
• Signs and symptoms of shock include lightheadedness, sleepiness, and confusion. Over time, if shock worsens, a person won’t be able to sit up without passing out. If the shock continues, the person can lose consciousness. Other signs and symptoms of shock include cold and sweaty skin, a weak and rapid pulse, and rapid breathing. If a person has signs or symptoms of shock, someone should call 9–1–1 right away.
• Hypotension is diagnosed based on your medical history, a physical exam, and results from tests.
• Treatment depends on the type of hypotension you have and how severe your signs and symptoms are. The goals of treatment are to relieve signs and symptoms and manage any underlying condition causing the hypotension. Treatments may include lifestyle changes, compression stockings, procedures, and medicines.
• Doctors often can successfully treat hypotension. Many people who have the disorder live normal, healthy lives.