Therapy
The treatment of low blood pressure depends on the underlying cause. In the vast majority of cases there is a relative lack of blood volume, which is favored by many factors. The most important measures for prevention and treatment of low blood pressure are increased drinking, regular and sufficient meals, good sleep hygiene, moderate physical activity and abstention from coffee or diuretic medication. If the low blood pressure is caused by other underlying diseases such as bleeding, sepsis or hormonal dysfunction, special therapies adapted to the disease must be carried out. In severe cases, the increase in blood pressure can be medically supported, for example by fluid infusions and circulation-supporting medication.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis is usually based on clinical criteria and the measurement of blood pressure. The symptoms together with typical risk factors and behavioral patterns may already indicate low blood pressure. With the help of a single or long-term blood pressure measurement, the exact values can then be confirmed.
This is done by inflating a cuff on the upper arm and measuring the blood pressure limits using a stethoscope or the fully automatic device based on certain tapping sounds. For domestic use, wrist blood pressure monitors are sometimes used, but these provide less accurate values. If there is a suspicion of a permanently disturbed blood pressure, a blood pressure measurement under load as well as a 24-hour blood pressure measurement may have to be carried out. In order to check for specific abnormalities in blood pressure, a provocation test can be carried out in which the blood pressure is measured at various intervals at rest and after getting up quickly.
Course of disease
The course of the disease is strongly dependent on the severity of the circulatory limitations and the therapy performed.Low blood pressure is in most cases a harmless temporary symptom that can be accompanied by dizziness, headaches and fatigue. However, a severely reduced circulation can also manifest itself in sensory disturbances, visual disturbances, drowsiness, loss of consciousness and more serious symptoms. In particularly severe cases, shock symptoms may develop in the course of the disease, which is defined as palpitations in cases of severely reduced blood pressure. In principle, this is a life-threatening clinical picture with potential damage to all organs. The basic therapy consists of an increased fluid intake in all stages of low blood pressure.
