Low blood pressure

Key points about low blood pressure

  • Blood pressure (BP) is the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. A BP reading measures the amount of pressure when your heart beats (systolic) and when it relaxes between beats (diastolic).
  • If your BP is under 90/60 (systolic over diastolic) it's considered to be low – known as hypotension.
  • Some people naturally have low blood pressure, especially if they are very fit, and it's not a problem.
  • However low BP can start to reduce blood flow to your organs, which is when you might feel unsteady, dizzy or faint.
  • Even though BP tends to rise with age, you are more likely to experience low blood pressure from getting up quickly (called postural or orthostatic hypotension) as you get older.
Older woman leaning on wall feeling dizzy

  • Being dehydrated (needing to drink more water).
  • Being pregnant, donating blood, bleeding a lot.
  • An infection or allergic reaction.
  • Having drugs or alcohol in your system.
  • Having an underlying illness such as a heart condition, anaemia, or a hormonal or nervous system disorder.
  • Some types of medication, such as medication to reduce high blood pressure or treat Parkinson’s Disease, as well as diuretics (water tablets) and some antidepressants.

Symptoms include:

  • feeling dizzy, lightheaded or unsteady
  • fainting(external link)
  • blurred vision
  • heartbeats that are more noticeable (palpitations)
  • feeling sick (nausea), weak or very tired.

How is low blood pressure diagnosed?

See your doctor if you often have the symptoms listed above. They will measure your blood pressure and ask you questions about your medical history and lifestyle. They might refer you for blood tests or an electrocardiogram (ECG) to see if there are any underlying conditions causing the low blood pressure.

How is low blood pressure treated?        

If you have an underlying condition, this needs to be treated, or if your medication is lowering your blood pressure, your doctor will discuss options.

Sometimes, if your low blood pressure is causing you to fall a lot and you are at risk, your doctor may refer you to a specialist. They will assess whether you need a medication called fludrocortisone to raise your blood pressure.

Otherwise, follow the self-care guidelines below.

Self-care for low blood pressure

  • Don’t stand up quickly.
  • Drink plenty of water.
  • Ask your doctor whether you need more salt in your diet.
  • Discuss your medication options with your doctor.
  • If you feel faint, dizzy or unsteady, stop what you are doing and sit or lie down, and drink some water.

If you want to track your blood pressure yourself, talk to your doctor about getting a device to do so at home. You can track your readings over time using an app (see below).

Support with low blood pressure

Healthline(external link)(external link)(external link) for free advice from trained registered nurses. Freephone 0800 611 116

Support with low blood pressure

Healthline(external link)(external link)(external link) for free advice from trained registered nurses. Freephone 0800 611 116

How is low blood pressure prevented?

Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated, stand up carefully and tell your doctor if you start to have symptoms of low blood pressure when you start or change your medication.

Learn more

Low blood pressure(external link)(external link)(external link) NHS Choices, UK, 2015
Orthostatic hypotension(external link)(external link)(external link) Better Health, Australia, 2011

Resources

24 hour blood pressure monitoring(external link)(external link)(external link) Heart Foundation, NZ

Related topics

Blood pressure (mate pēhanga toto)(external link)
High blood pressure | Mate pēhanga toto(external link)
Measuring your blood pressure at home(external link)
Blood pressure | Pēhanga toto(external link)

References

Arnold AC, Shibao C. Current concepts in orthostatic hypotension management(external link)(external link)(external link) C. Curr Hypertens Rep (2013) 15: 304
Out-of-clinic blood pressure testing in primary care(external link)(external link)(external link) BPAC, NZ, 2016

Managing low blood pressure

Because blood pressure readings tend to be higher in clinic, consider whether out-of-clinic monitoring is advisable to establish whether blood pressure is frequently too low.

For information on managing different types of hypotension see Hypotension(external link)(external link)(external link), Patient Info, 2016

Need help now?

Print this page

Credits: Healthify editorial team. Healthify is brought to you by Health Navigator Charitable Trust.

Page last updated: