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Short answer When low blood pressure needs a doctor Common questions Related questions Sources**Low blood pressure usually happens for one of four reasons: too little fluid in your circulation, a heart that is not pumping strongly, blood vessels that stay too relaxed, or a medicine that lowers pressure more than intended.**
A reading under 90/60 mm Hg is often called low, but the number matters less than how you feel. Many healthy people, especially younger adults and athletes, run low with no symptoms and need no treatment. Dehydration, blood loss, pregnancy, hormone conditions such as thyroid or adrenal disease, heart rhythm problems, and severe infection all reduce pressure, and drugs like diuretics, nitrates, alpha blockers, and some antidepressants add to the drop. Short dips when you stand up, called orthostatic hypotension, get more common with age, bed rest, hot weather, alcohol, and large meals. Drinking enough fluid, standing up slowly, and reviewing your medicine list with a clinician resolve most everyday cases.
When low blood pressure needs a doctor
Common questions
what causes low blood pressure
Low blood pressure means blood flow to your organs drops below what they need. Common causes include dehydration, blood loss, heart problems such as a slow or irregular rhythm and heart failure, hormone conditions like thyroid or adrenal disease, pregnancy, and severe infection. Medicines are a frequent cause, especially blood pressure drugs, diuretics, nitrates, alpha blockers, and some antidepressants. Standing up quickly, long bed rest, hot weather, alcohol, and large meals trigger short drops. Low readings without symptoms often need no treatment. Seek urgent care for fainting, confusion, chest pain, fast breathing, or cool clammy skin.