Blood Pressure Article
Low Blood Pressure – Treatment
Low blood pressure without any symptoms or complications is not a health problem, and therefore, does not need to be treated. For those with low blood pressure as a medical condition, however, they can be treated by observing certain dietary guidelines and medications.
Compared to hypertension, low blood pressure has to be treated with more urgency because symptoms and health risks take a shorter time to develop. There are dietary preferences recommended by physicians to counter low blood pressure in general, and these include consuming more salt and water. It is also quite common that individuals with hypotension are advised to wear compressed stockings. Nevertheless, the most effective way is the use of medications, which are prescribed according to the symptoms shown by the individuals.
Individuals with high blood pressure are advised against taking too much salt, because salt is known to be one of the dietary elements most likely to increase blood pressure. In the case of hypotension, however, this might well be a desirable outcome. Still, it must also be noted that too much salt may lead to complications of the heart. A physician should be consulted to determine the level of salt intake most appropriate for your specific condition.
One of the major causes for low blood pressure is depletion of blood volume. While drinking water is beneficial to everybody, it means a lot more to the individual with hypotension because water adds to blood volume and prevents the body from getting dehydrated. With an increase in blood volume, there will be more fluidity in blood circulation; therefore, adequate supply of oxygen and nutrients can be efficiently delivered to all organs in the body.
Compression stockings are also recommended by physicians as a measure against low blood pressure. In many cases, blood pressure is so low that the blood becomes stagnant and form pools in the blood vessels. This can result in swelling and quite some amount of pain. Compression stockings are used to tighten affected areas of the legs to help ease the swelling and to disperse the blood pools.
Physicians used to prescribe a medication called Midodrine to counter low blood pressure. However, while it does well to increase blood pressure in the standing position, it also increases supine pressure drastically, which will contribute to the risk of getting strokes. In the quest to find a medication to replace Midodrine, physicians discovered Mestinon, a medication which increases blood pressure without raising supine pressure. But Mestinon also has side effects, such as slight abdominal cramping and increased tendency to pass motion.
Other than general medication for low blood pressure, physicians also use various other kinds of medications, depending on the specificity of the symptoms. Methods such as intravenous fluids, electrolytes, blood transfusions and others are also used to treat patients who are in the more advanced stages of low blood pressure. For life-threatening conditions such as total collapse of the organs, transplants might be required.
In general, low blood pressure does not affect as many people as hypertension, but it can be a life-threatening condition all the same. Prompt detection and treatment is the best way to control low blood pressure.
