low blood pressure

We hear all the time about high blood pressure and it’s dangers.  But
little is said about low blood pressure. What are the numbers for blood
pressure that are considered too low?

I searched the net, but couldn’t find an answer.  Just curious.

2 Responses to “low blood pressure”

  1. admin says:

    On 17 Jul 1996 19:11:30 -0400, bfsu…@aol.com (BFSUGGS) wrote:

    >We hear all the time about high blood pressure and it’s dangers.  But
    >little is said about low blood pressure. What are the numbers for blood
    >pressure that are considered too low?

    >I searched the net, but couldn’t find an answer.  Just curious.

    It’s very difficult to say what’s "too low."  The often-quoted but
    misleading figure of 100 mmHg is given as the lower limit of normal
    for the systolic pressure.

    My general rule (in the outpatient setting, at least) is if the
    systolic pressure is below 100 but the patient is asymptomatic, I
    don’t worry too much.  If the patient is complaining of any symptoms
    which could be related to low blood pressure (dizziness, fatigue,
    syncope), it is a reason to consider the patient hypotensive and in
    need of prompt evaluation.

    Hope this helps somewhat.  (It’s actually a common question from my
    patients.)
    — Chris

  2. admin says:

    - Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

    Chris Klugewicz wrote:

    > On 17 Jul 1996 19:11:30 -0400, bfsu…@aol.com (BFSUGGS) wrote:

    > >We hear all the time about high blood pressure and it’s dangers.  But
    > >little is said about low blood pressure. What are the numbers for blood
    > >pressure that are considered too low?

    > >I searched the net, but couldn’t find an answer.  Just curious.

    > It’s very difficult to say what’s "too low."  The often-quoted but
    > misleading figure of 100 mmHg is given as the lower limit of normal
    > for the systolic pressure.

    > My general rule (in the outpatient setting, at least) is if the
    > systolic pressure is below 100 but the patient is asymptomatic, I
    > don’t worry too much.  If the patient is complaining of any symptoms
    > which could be related to low blood pressure (dizziness, fatigue,
    > syncope), it is a reason to consider the patient hypotensive and in
    > need of prompt evaluation.

    > Hope this helps somewhat.  (It’s actually a common question from my
    > patients.)
    > — ChrisI just read your post and I am wondering why my doctor is very nonchalant

    about my blood pressure being normally around 80 over around 50 with
    feelings of tiredness and often dizziness. I am 69 years old and suffer
    from frequent skipping of the heartbeat, which is very unsettling to say
    the least. My last EKG showed irregularities in the left side of my
    heart. When asked, my docotr answered that if it were to get worse, I
    would have to consider an implant. Needless to say, I didn’t like that
    answer. There has to be some medication for treating this. My former
    doctor (before I had to change to an HMO) had put me on a medication
    (I forgot the name) which helped tremendiously, but it was taken off the
    market by the FDA. During the last month I experience also some chest
    pains and occational sharp stabbing pains in my chest. Should I go back
    to my doctor and demand to be send to a heart specialist?
    Thanks for any helpful answer.
    Hannelore.

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