Low blood pressure is a reading of less than 90/60mmHg. It does not always cause symptoms, but you may need treatment if it does.
Symptoms of low blood pressure
Get your blood pressure checked if you keep getting symptoms like:
- lightheadedness or dizziness
- feeling sick
- blurred vision
- generally feeling weak
- confusion
- fainting
This might mean your blood pressure is too low.
If you get symptoms when you stand up or suddenly change position, you may have postural hypotension.
How to check your blood pressure
You can check your blood pressure:
- by asking if a pharmacist can do it
- by asking a practice nurse or GP to do it
- at home yourself using a home blood pressure monitor – Blood Pressure UK has information about choosing a blood pressure monitor
Low blood pressure is a measurement of less than 90/60mmHg.
Important: Regular blood pressure check
If you're 40 to 74 years old, you should have your blood pressure checked at least once every 5 years as part of the NHS Health Check.
Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:
- you keep getting symptoms such as dizziness and fainting
Treatment for low blood pressure depends on the cause
If a cause can be found, a GP will be able to recommend treatment to ease your symptoms.
For example, they may suggest:
- changing medicines or altering your dose, if this is the cause
- wearing support stockings – this can improve circulation and increase blood pressure
Medicine to increase blood pressure is rarely needed because simple lifestyle measures or treating the underlying cause is usually effective.
How to ease low blood pressure symptoms yourself
Do
get up slowly from sitting to standing
take care when getting out of bed – move slowly from lying to sitting to standing
eat small, frequent meals – lying down or sitting still for a while after eating may also help
increase the amount of water you drink
Don’t
do not sit or stand for long periods
do not bend down or change posture suddenly
do not drink caffeinated drinks at night
do not drink too much alcohol
Causes of low blood pressure
Your blood pressure can vary depending on the time of day. It gradually increases throughout the day.
What you're doing and how you're feeling can also affect it.
There are many possible causes of low blood pressure. It may be low because you're fit and healthy, or you may have inherited it from your parents.
Low blood pressure is not always a sign of a problem. But if you have symptoms of low blood pressure, your doctor can diagnose the condition and uncover the cause. Symptoms of dizziness and lightheadedness when you stand up from sitting or lying down -- with a decrease in your blood pressure -- may indicate a condition called postural hypotension. A wide range of underlying conditions may also cause your symptoms. It's important to identify the cause of low blood pressure so appropriate treatment can be given.
The doctor will look at your medical history, age, specific symptoms, and the conditions under which the symptoms occurred. They will do a physical exam and may repeatedly check your blood pressure and pulse rate -- after you've been lying down for a few minutes, right after you stand up, and within a few minutes after you stand quietly.
Other tests may be performed, such as an ECG (electrocardiogram) to measure heart rate and rhythm and an echocardiogram (an ultrasound test to visualize the heart). You may also have blood tests to look for anemia or problems with your blood sugar levels.
More sophisticated home ECG monitoring (a Holter monitor or "event" monitor) may be necessary to check for heart problems that come and go or an irregular heart beat that can cause your blood pressure to drop suddenly.
An exercise stress test or, less commonly, an electrophysiology test (EP test) may also be helpful.
Some forms of postural hypotension may require a test called a "tilt table" test. This test evaluates the body's reaction to changes in position. The person lies on a table, is safely strapped in, and the table is raised to an upright position for up to an hour. Blood pressure, heart rate, and symptoms are recorded. Often, medications are given to help guide treatment.
What Are the Treatments for Low Blood Pressure?
For many people, chronic low blood pressure can be effectively treated with diet and lifestyle changes.
Depending on the cause of your symptoms, your doctor may tell you to increase your blood pressure by making these simple changes: