Introduction
Low blood pressure, also called “arterial hypotension”, describes a low pressure of blood flow in the arterial vessels leading away from the heart. Blood pressure, which is regulated largely by the contractile force of the heart, ensures that all cells in the body are permanently and sufficiently supplied with blood and the nutrients and oxygen it contains. The central circulatory functions of the body can only be maintained by a regular heartbeat, a sufficient amount of blood in the body, and an appropriate blood pressure. If the body’s cells need more oxygen, the blood pressure will rise reflexively. If parts of this sensitive circulatory process are disturbed, some cells may not be supplied with sufficient oxygen, which can lead to various symptoms such as dizziness.
Why can low blood pressure cause dizziness?
Overall, low blood pressure is the most common cause of sudden vertigo. Although the processes behind the development of vertigo are simple, the causes of the underlying blood pressure are often a complex interaction of numerous factors. There is often a relative lack of blood volume, which can be caused by poor drinking habits, bleeding, hormonal imbalances in the body or increased water loss.
Other factors, such as the female sex, pregnancy, fasting, getting up early in the morning, low physical activity, alcohol consumption, certain medications, getting up quickly and poor sleeping hygiene all contribute to low blood pressure. As a result, the brain may be less well supplied with dizziness attacks. Initially, dizziness occurs due to sudden rising and physical activity or after prolonged standing, in advanced stages even while sitting or lying down. The reason for this is gravity, which additionally works against the blood pressure when standing and makes it difficult to supply the head with blood.
Associated symptoms
Accompanying symptoms of vertigo can vary depending on the underlying cause. In many cases the dizziness is followed by feelings of dizziness, tiredness, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, headaches, fainting and palpitations. All these factors indicate a lack of oxygen in the head in combination with low blood pressure.
In addition to the neurological symptoms, this is mainly due to compensatory mechanisms of the cardiovascular system, which are intended to ensure sufficient blood circulation in the body’s cells. For example, tachycardia and cardiac stuttering occur. Nausea does not necessarily have to be attributed to stomach upset, but is a common neurological problem, which is also attributed to low blood pressure.
As a result of dizziness, certain centers in the brain can become excited, provoking nausea and even vomiting. The organ of balance is closely connected to the feeling of nausea. Dysfunction of the vestibular organ in the inner ear also typically results in dizziness with nausea.
However, nausea with vomiting can lead to a further worsening of low blood pressure and thus to a vicious circle. This leads to further loss of food and fluids, which has a negative effect on blood volume and circulatory functions. In severe cases, intravenous fluid infusions may be necessary.
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- Dizziness with nausea
Fatigue is a typical symptom of dizziness caused by low blood pressure. Tiredness is another neurological symptom, which is caused by a reduced supply of blood and oxygen to the brain. Fatigue is also a risk factor for low blood pressure.
In order to avoid circulatory problems in the long term and to counteract dizziness, in addition to an increased fluid intake, regular sleep of about 8 hours a day is recommended. However, no stimulants or caffeine should be taken to combat fatigue, as these have the opposite effect and can increase dizziness in several ways. Caffeine in particular has a diuretic effect, which causes the body to excrete additional water via the kidneys and further lowers blood pressure.
Headaches are a very unspecific symptom, which can indicate many changes and diseases, but on the other hand they can also appear seemingly without cause.Headache is closely related to other non-specific neurological symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness and lightheadedness. These symptoms are often mutually dependent and often occur together. In addition to low blood pressure, numerous other underlying conditions can also be responsible for headache.
A migraine, for example, can be accompanied by a so-called “aura” and lead to dizziness, light-headedness and headaches.
- Dizziness with headaches
- Dizziness and migraine
A high pulse is a typical reaction of the body to low blood pressure. The high pulse itself does not cause dizziness, but it often occurs as an accompanying symptom of vertigo and other neurological symptoms.
Blood pressure and pulse are closely intertwined in the circulatory system and together ensure adequate blood circulation in the body. If the blood pressure drops due to various underlying diseases, the pulse automatically increases. In particularly severe cases, for example severe blood loss or blood poisoning, a state of shock can occur in which the pulse even exceeds the upper blood pressure value.
These can be acute and life-threatening clinical pictures. The first signs of such an imbalance are neurological symptoms such as dizziness, headache and light-headedness. Vision problems are a rare but serious neurological symptom that can occur as a result of low blood pressure.
Again, in certain situations, low blood pressure results in a reduced supply of oxygen to certain areas of the brain. Occasionally, blurred vision, double vision, or even complete black vision for a few seconds to minutes may occur. This is a threatening symptom that should be taken seriously and reported to a doctor.
Various tests must be carried out for clarification in order to rule out various causes of the visual disturbances. Low blood pressure should be treated under the supervision of a physician when visual disorders occur. More about this:
- Dizziness and visual disorders
The reduced supply of body cells due to low blood pressure can be noticed not only in the brain but also in the rest of the body and the extremities. Especially when the legs or arms are elevated, the insufficient blood pressure can lead to circulatory problems in the toes or fingers. This initially manifests itself as tingling and formication, then also as numbness, pain or muscle weakness.
