Low Blood Pressure (Hypotension)
Health Lav89 - Low Blood Pressure (Hypotension). Hypotension (low blood pressure) is a condition where blood pressure is lower than 90/60 mmHg or blood pressure is low enough to cause symptoms such as dizziness and fainting. Maintaining pressure when the blood leaves the heart and circulates throughout the body is very important. Pressure must be high enough to deliver oxygen and nutrients to all cells in the body and dispose of the waste produced.
If the pressure is too high, it can tear the blood vessels and cause bleeding in the brain (hemorrhagic stroke) or other complications. If the pressure is too low, the blood cannot provide enough oxygen and food substances to the cell and cannot properly dispose of the waste produced.
There are 3 factors that help determine blood pressure:
1. The amount of blood pumped from the heart
The more blood pumped from the heart every minute (cardiac output, cardiac output), the higher the blood pressure. The amount of blood pumped may be reduced if the heart rhythm slows or contraction weakens, as can occur after a heart attack (myocardial infarction). A very rapid heart rate, which can reduce the efficiency of the heart pump, can also reduce cardiac output.
2. The volume of blood in the blood vessels
The more blood is in the circulation, the higher the blood pressure. Blood loss due to dehydration or bleeding can reduce blood volume and lower blood pressure.
3. Capacity of blood vessels
The smaller the capacity of the heart vessels, the higher the blood pressure. Dilation (dilation) of blood vessels causes decreased blood pressure and narrowing of blood vessels causes blood pressure to rise.
Sensor systems, especially those in the neck and chest, monitor blood pressure constantly. If a change is caused by any of the above three factors, the sensor system will trigger a change in one of the factors to compensate so that stable blood pressure can be maintained.
The nerves carry signals from the sensor system and from the center of the brain to several important organs:
- Heart, to change the speed and strength of heart rate (change the amount of blood pumped)
- Kidney, to regulate the expenditure of water (changes the volume of blood in the circulation)
- Blood vessels, to cause constriction / wrinkling or dilation / widening (altering the capacity of blood vessels).
Therefore, if the blood vessels dilate (which tend to lower blood pressure), the sensor system immediately sends signals through the brain and into the heart to increase the heart rate, so that blood flow from the heart increases and blood pressure changes.
Low blood pressure may also be a result of a malfunction in the mechanisms that maintain blood pressure. For example, if the nerve's ability to deliver a signal is disrupted due to various diseases, then the compensation mechanism can not function properly.
Low blood pressure may also be a result of a malfunction in the mechanisms that maintain blood pressure. For example, if the nerve's ability to deliver a signal is disrupted due to various diseases, then the compensation mechanism can not function properly.
