Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsWhat’s Considered Serious?CausesTestingTreatmentMeasuring it at HomeWhat to Do During a Sudden Drop in Blood PressureOutlookNext in Low Blood Pressure GuideSymptoms of Low Blood Pressure
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
What’s Considered Serious?
Causes
Testing
Treatment
Measuring it at Home
What to Do During a Sudden Drop in Blood Pressure
Outlook
Next in Low Blood Pressure Guide
Low blood pressure(hypotension) is the opposite ofhigh blood pressure(hypertension). Normal blood pressure readings are typically between 90/60 and 120/80 mmHg (millimeters of mercury). The top and bottom numbers of a blood pressure reading representsystolic and diastolic pressure. Having a top numberbelow 90 or a bottom number under 60 is considered low blood pressure.
This article explains why some low blood pressure (LBP) readings below 90/60 mm Hg are considered “normal,” what makes low blood pressure problematic for some, how to distinguish serious symptoms that are dangerous from those that aren’t, when to seek emergency medical treatment, and more.
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Low Blood Pressure Symptoms
Low pressure symptoms associated with hypotension may include:
Many people with chronic low blood pressure under 90/60 mm Hg are asymptomatic or experience mild, barely noticeable symptoms. That said, if you experience any of the above symptoms associated with low blood pressure, speak to a healthcare provider.
Dangerous Low Blood Pressure: What’s Considered Serious?
The biggest danger associated with severely low blood pressure is inadequate tissue perfusion, meaning that vital organs don’t get enough blood flow and oxygen, calledhypoperfusion. It can be deadly if low blood pressure causes insufficient blood flow, leading to hypoperfusion.Although extremely low blood pressure can be dangerous, hypotension doesn’t always lead to organ hypoperfusion.
What Causes Blood Pressure to Drop?
Changes in body position, such as standing up quickly, commonly cause blood pressure to drop. This type of low blood pressure is calledpostural (orthostatic) hypotension. Orthostatic hypotension is the most common form of low blood pressure.Other things that may cause low blood pressure include:
Symptoms of ShockSymptoms of shock include:Weak or rapid pulseLow blood pressureRapid breathingCold, moist skinConfusionSleepinessAltered mental statePale blue hands and feetWhen low blood pressure causes any symptoms of shock, it should be treated as an emergency. If someone experiences a dangerous drop in blood pressure and goes into shock, call 911right away.
Symptoms of Shock
Symptoms of shock include:Weak or rapid pulseLow blood pressureRapid breathingCold, moist skinConfusionSleepinessAltered mental statePale blue hands and feetWhen low blood pressure causes any symptoms of shock, it should be treated as an emergency. If someone experiences a dangerous drop in blood pressure and goes into shock, call 911right away.
Symptoms of shock include:
When low blood pressure causes any symptoms of shock, it should be treated as an emergency. If someone experiences a dangerous drop in blood pressure and goes into shock, call 911right away.
Testing to Diagnose Low Blood Pressure
Routine blood pressure tests can diagnose low blood pressure, a blood pressure reading below 90/60 mm Hg. Blood tests, urine samples, and imaging are also used to diagnose low blood pressure. If someone with low blood pressure faints often, atilt table testmay be used during diagnosis.
In medical emergencies, healthcare providers often use mean arterial pressure or MAPto monitor and diagnose low blood pressure in critically ill patients.MAP readings above 65 are a target that usually means blood pressure isn’t dangerously low. Notably, prolonged MAP readings below 65 for more than two hours can be dangerous and are associated with higher mortality rates.
Low Blood Pressure and Stroke RiskSome studies have found a correlation between low blood pressure and increased risk of stroke and higher mortality (death rates) in people with low blood pressure after a stroke.
Low Blood Pressure and Stroke Risk
Some studies have found a correlation between low blood pressure and increased risk of stroke and higher mortality (death rates) in people with low blood pressure after a stroke.
Low Blood Pressure Treatment
People who technically have low blood pressure based on a “top number” reading below 90 or a “bottom number” below 60 but are asymptomatic (or have very mild symptoms) typically don’t require treatment.
If someone with low blood pressure is experiencing notable symptoms, these treatments may help:
Always talk to a healthcare provider before trying any of these treatments. In cases of severe low blood pressure, pharmaceuticals or other medical treatments may be prescribed.
How to Check Low Blood Pressure at Home
Home blood pressure monitoring(HBPM) is a readily accessible and affordable way to check low blood pressure at home. There are lots of easy-to-use HBPM products available for home use.
If you have severe low blood pressure symptoms, a healthcare provider may recommend anambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM)device that records your blood pressure constantly over 24 hours. Unlike inaccurate"whitecoat" readingsthat often occur during stressful doctor visits, ABPM provides highly accurate blood pressure readings at home and as you go about daily life.
How to Check Your Blood Pressure at Home With or Without a Monitor
Sitting down is the best thing to do during a sudden drop in blood pressure. Sudden blood pressure drops can lead to fainting and falls; sitting helps avoid this. You can also try lying down and elevating your legs above the heart, which increases cardiac output and boosts blood pressure.
If a sudden drop in blood pressure causes someone to lose consciousness or go into shock, call 911 immediately.
In general, the outlook for low blood pressure is good. Many people go about their day-to-day lives with chronically low blood pressure without experiencing any symptoms. Whereas high blood pressure is associated with poor outcomes, having low blood pressure isn’t necessarily a bad thing. However, if low blood pressure does cause symptoms, it’s important to speak with a healthcare provider right away and to seek medical attention immediately if a sudden drop in blood pressure triggers shock.
Summary
Low blood pressure is considered a reading below 90/60 mm Hg. Although having a top number below 90 or a bottom number below 60 is technically considered low blood pressure, many people have chronically low blood pressure without experiencing negative symptoms. If low blood pressure doesn’t cause symptoms, it usually doesn’t require treatment.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institutes of Health: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Low blood pressure.American Heart Association.Low blood pressure - when blood pressure is too low.Jentzer JC, Burstein B, Van Diepen S, et al.Defining shock and preshock for mortality risk stratification in cardiac intensive care unit patients.Circ: Heart Failure. 2021;14(1):e007678. doi:10.1161/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.120.007678Meng L.Heterogeneous impact of hypotension on organ perfusion and outcomes: a narrative review.British Journal of Anaesthesia. 2021;127(6):845-861. doi:10.1016/j.bja.2021.06.048Looking for trouble: identifying and treating hypotension.P T. 2019 Sep;44(9):563-565. PMID: 31485153; PMCID: PMC6705478.Korang SK, Safi S, Feinberg J, Gluud C, Perner A, Jakobsen JC.Higher versus lower blood pressure targets in adults with shock. Cochrane Emergency and Critical Care Group, ed.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Published online November 13, 2019. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD013470Mount Sinai.Shock.Sarkar S, Singh S, Rout A.Mean arterial pressure goal in critically ill patients: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.J Clin Med Res. 2022;14(5):196-201. doi:10.14740/jocmr4702Vincent JL, Nielsen ND, Shapiro NI, et al.Mean arterial pressure and mortality in patients with distributive shock: a retrospective analysis of the MIMIC-III database.Ann Intensive Care. 2018;8(1):107. doi:10.1186/s13613-018-0448-9Aparicio HJ, Tarko LM, Gagnon D, et al.Low blood pressure, comorbidities, and ischemic stroke mortality in US veterans.Stroke. 2022;53(3):886-894. doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.120.033195Penn Medicine.Low blood pressure.National Institutes of Health: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Low blood pressure.
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institutes of Health: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Low blood pressure.American Heart Association.Low blood pressure - when blood pressure is too low.Jentzer JC, Burstein B, Van Diepen S, et al.Defining shock and preshock for mortality risk stratification in cardiac intensive care unit patients.Circ: Heart Failure. 2021;14(1):e007678. doi:10.1161/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.120.007678Meng L.Heterogeneous impact of hypotension on organ perfusion and outcomes: a narrative review.British Journal of Anaesthesia. 2021;127(6):845-861. doi:10.1016/j.bja.2021.06.048Looking for trouble: identifying and treating hypotension.P T. 2019 Sep;44(9):563-565. PMID: 31485153; PMCID: PMC6705478.Korang SK, Safi S, Feinberg J, Gluud C, Perner A, Jakobsen JC.Higher versus lower blood pressure targets in adults with shock. Cochrane Emergency and Critical Care Group, ed.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Published online November 13, 2019. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD013470Mount Sinai.Shock.Sarkar S, Singh S, Rout A.Mean arterial pressure goal in critically ill patients: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.J Clin Med Res. 2022;14(5):196-201. doi:10.14740/jocmr4702Vincent JL, Nielsen ND, Shapiro NI, et al.Mean arterial pressure and mortality in patients with distributive shock: a retrospective analysis of the MIMIC-III database.Ann Intensive Care. 2018;8(1):107. doi:10.1186/s13613-018-0448-9Aparicio HJ, Tarko LM, Gagnon D, et al.Low blood pressure, comorbidities, and ischemic stroke mortality in US veterans.Stroke. 2022;53(3):886-894. doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.120.033195Penn Medicine.Low blood pressure.National Institutes of Health: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Low blood pressure.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institutes of Health: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Low blood pressure.American Heart Association.Low blood pressure - when blood pressure is too low.Jentzer JC, Burstein B, Van Diepen S, et al.Defining shock and preshock for mortality risk stratification in cardiac intensive care unit patients.Circ: Heart Failure. 2021;14(1):e007678. doi:10.1161/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.120.007678Meng L.Heterogeneous impact of hypotension on organ perfusion and outcomes: a narrative review.British Journal of Anaesthesia. 2021;127(6):845-861. doi:10.1016/j.bja.2021.06.048Looking for trouble: identifying and treating hypotension.P T. 2019 Sep;44(9):563-565. PMID: 31485153; PMCID: PMC6705478.Korang SK, Safi S, Feinberg J, Gluud C, Perner A, Jakobsen JC.Higher versus lower blood pressure targets in adults with shock. Cochrane Emergency and Critical Care Group, ed.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Published online November 13, 2019. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD013470Mount Sinai.Shock.Sarkar S, Singh S, Rout A.Mean arterial pressure goal in critically ill patients: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.J Clin Med Res. 2022;14(5):196-201. doi:10.14740/jocmr4702Vincent JL, Nielsen ND, Shapiro NI, et al.Mean arterial pressure and mortality in patients with distributive shock: a retrospective analysis of the MIMIC-III database.Ann Intensive Care. 2018;8(1):107. doi:10.1186/s13613-018-0448-9Aparicio HJ, Tarko LM, Gagnon D, et al.Low blood pressure, comorbidities, and ischemic stroke mortality in US veterans.Stroke. 2022;53(3):886-894. doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.120.033195Penn Medicine.Low blood pressure.National Institutes of Health: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Low blood pressure.
National Institutes of Health: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Low blood pressure.
American Heart Association.Low blood pressure - when blood pressure is too low.
Jentzer JC, Burstein B, Van Diepen S, et al.Defining shock and preshock for mortality risk stratification in cardiac intensive care unit patients.Circ: Heart Failure. 2021;14(1):e007678. doi:10.1161/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.120.007678
Meng L.Heterogeneous impact of hypotension on organ perfusion and outcomes: a narrative review.British Journal of Anaesthesia. 2021;127(6):845-861. doi:10.1016/j.bja.2021.06.048
Looking for trouble: identifying and treating hypotension.P T. 2019 Sep;44(9):563-565. PMID: 31485153; PMCID: PMC6705478.
Korang SK, Safi S, Feinberg J, Gluud C, Perner A, Jakobsen JC.Higher versus lower blood pressure targets in adults with shock. Cochrane Emergency and Critical Care Group, ed.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Published online November 13, 2019. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD013470
Mount Sinai.Shock.
Sarkar S, Singh S, Rout A.Mean arterial pressure goal in critically ill patients: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.J Clin Med Res. 2022;14(5):196-201. doi:10.14740/jocmr4702
Vincent JL, Nielsen ND, Shapiro NI, et al.Mean arterial pressure and mortality in patients with distributive shock: a retrospective analysis of the MIMIC-III database.Ann Intensive Care. 2018;8(1):107. doi:10.1186/s13613-018-0448-9
Aparicio HJ, Tarko LM, Gagnon D, et al.Low blood pressure, comorbidities, and ischemic stroke mortality in US veterans.Stroke. 2022;53(3):886-894. doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.120.033195
Penn Medicine.Low blood pressure.
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