Circulatory problems are widespread and are often accompanied by attacks of dizziness, nausea, sweating or blackening of the eyes and even sudden loss of consciousness. Triggers for circulatory problems can include abrupt changes in the weather, getting up too quickly from a lying position or standing for long periods in crowds, but also severe pain. The basis of circulatory problems is usually a short-term reduction in blood flow to the brain due to disturbed or slowed circulation regulation.
In order to adapt to different stress situations, the body has central regulatory mechanisms that control the blood flow in the body. For example, the heart beats faster during increased physical exertion and blood vessels contract in order to prevent a drop in blood pressure and thus to avoid a reduced blood supply to the brain. If these regulatory mechanisms fail or are disturbed – dizziness, nausea and fainting can be the result. The most common causes of circulatory problems are above all too low blood pressure (hypotension), which is usually harmless. However, other diseases can also cause circulatory problems, which will be discussed in more detail below.
Causes
There are many different causes for circulatory problems. The most common cause is primary hypotension – i.e. a permanently lowered blood pressure without underlying disease – which is very common in young women. Circulatory problems occur here mainly after getting up too quickly from a lying position, after standing for too long or when the weather changes and usually do not require treatment.
The secondary hypotension is to be distinguished from this. This is a lowered blood pressure due to cardiovascular diseases (e.g. cardiac dysrhythmia, heart valve diseases, carotid sinus syndrome and others) or hormonal disorders (e.g. hypothyroidism), which reduce the performance of the heart and can therefore lead to a reduced blood supply to the brain.
Diseases of the nervous system, the kidneys or the intake of certain medications can also lead to lowered blood pressure, which causes circulatory problems. Other causes of circulatory problems can be injuries with severe blood loss (shock), emotional stress (for example, witnessing an accident), severe pain or orthostatic dysregulation. Orthostatic dysregulation is a disturbed circulation regulation after getting up.
In this case the blood in the legs sinks and causes a reduced blood flow to the brain. Circulatory problems also occur more frequently during pregnancy. This is mainly due to hormonal changes that can lead to lower blood pressure, but are usually harmless.
One cause of circulatory problems can also be hypothyroidism. It manifests itself in dry, scaly, cold skin, brittle nails, hair loss, weight gain, lack of drive and cold intolerance. The lack of thyroid hormones, which have an important function in the regulation of the cardiovascular system, is also manifested by dizziness, low blood pressure, a slowed heartbeat and pulse, as well as by physical exhaustion and tiredness. For this reason, the thyroid hormones in the blood should be monitored during the clarification of long-term circulatory problems and substituted in the case of hypothyroidism.
