Short term consequences of low blood pressure
In the short term, low blood pressure (hypotension) can lead to an imbalance of the circulation. Especially young women with a slim build are more likely to experience syncope (unconsciousness) lasting several seconds, which is usually reversible. These are announced above all by warning signs such as dizziness and blackening of the eyes. These syncopations can become dangerous when falls occur.
Long-term consequences of too low blood pressure
If blood pressure values (hypotension) are moderately reduced and do not cause any specific symptoms (especially syncope), they should generally not be considered in need of treatment. On the contrary, there is no evidence that low blood pressure values cause any particular damage to the cardiovascular system in the long term. On the contrary, hypotension has protective effects on the vascular system.
However, hypotension should be treated therapeutically when the above-mentioned symptoms occur. It is important to prevent possible complications such as falls or a continuous drop in performance at work, etc. In the long term, in the case of low blood pressure caused by a lack of volume, a possible reduction in renal blood flow can be considered critical.
As in renal artery stenosis, this results in a decrease in the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). In the long term, renal insufficiency, for example, can develop. According to several reports, hypotension and the associated reduced blood supply to the brain increases the risk of stroke.
Long-term consequences can also occur, for example, if recurrent falls occur during hypotension. Particularly in older people (e.g. femoral neck fractures) or pregnant women (e.g. traumatic injury to the fetus) these can lead to serious long-term complications. Our next article may also be of interest to you: Low blood pressure and high pulse
Can there be a serious illness behind too low blood pressure?
Too low blood pressure (hypotension) can be a serious condition. Above all, an organic disease should be excluded as the cause of hypotension. For example, certain cardiac arrhythmias (including atrial fibrillation, reentry tachycardia, etc.)
are associated with hypotension.They should be treated promptly with antiarrhythmics. Hypothyroidism can also be associated with hypotension, especially in the form of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. This is an autoimmune-mediated disease.
The risk of further autoimmune diseases is increased (e.g. diabetes mellitus type 1). It is important to find the diagnostic cause of newly occurring hypotonus with accompanying symptoms. A clinical examination should above all be supplemented by an ultrasound examination of the heart (echocardiography).
This allows organic causes of hypotension to be excluded. An echocardiographic examination would reveal, for example, signs of cardiac arrhythmia or heart failure (weakness of the heart muscle). The following topic could also be of interest to you: What to do when you have low blood pressure, causes of low blood pressure
