Low blood pressure in an elderly person: treatment and prevention

Why is low blood pressure in an elderly person no less dangerous than high blood pressure?

Both conditions are dangerous - hypotension and hypertension. Doctors cannot give a definite answer as to whether high blood pressure or low blood pressure is worse. For a long time, there was an opinion that only high blood pressure is dangerous, since it puts a serious strain on the heart and this negatively affects its functioning. That is why older people with hypertension are often diagnosed with cardiovascular diseases, and they often suffer from strokes, heart attacks and other complications.

However, very low blood pressure in an elderly person is no less dangerous - with a lack of oxygen, the brain, heart, kidneys, and gastrointestinal tract cannot function normally. The result is the gradual death of organ cells.

Complications of hypotension include:

Injuries sustained by older people during fainting conditions. They are often very strong.
Ischemic stroke. It becomes a consequence of chronic lack of blood supply.
Cardiogenic shock, myocardial infarction. Occurs when there is insufficient blood supply to the heart.
Senile dementia (dementia). Develops as a result of a disturbance in the thought process due to frequent changes in blood pressure.
Loss of sensation in limbs in older people. It becomes a consequence of disruptions occurring in the venous and arterial blood supply.

Hypotension that lasts for a long time can cause severe arterial hypertension.

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“Learn to control your blood pressure.”

One of the most common health complaints and one of the most “favorite” diseases among older people is increased blood pressure. This pathology can explain any changes in well-being, bad mood and other troubles. Blood pressure can rise and fall several times during one day, and a person’s normal blood pressure is a purely individual concept.

What is blood pressure and what indicators are considered normal?

Blood pressure is a general concept that determines the force with which blood presses on the walls of blood vessels; it would be more correct to call it blood pressure, because pressure matters not only in the arteries, but also in the veins and capillaries. But it is only possible to measure pressure in large vessels located on the surface of the body—in the arteries—without the help of special instruments.

Blood pressure - blood pressure - depends on the speed and force with which a person’s heart contracts, how much blood it can pump in one minute, on the properties of the blood itself and the resistance of the walls of blood vessels.

Factors influencing blood pressure:

the ability of the heart to contract with sufficient force and ensure normal release of blood through the vessels;
from the rheological properties of the blood - the “thicker” the blood, the more difficult it is to move through the vessels; diseases such as diabetes mellitus, increased coagulability, greatly impede the flow of blood and can lead to problems with blood pressure; with thick blood, some doctors prescribe treatment with leeches;
elasticity of the walls of blood vessels - blood vessels wear out over time and cannot withstand increased load - this becomes the cause of the development of hypertension in older people,
atherosclerotic changes - reduce the elasticity of the walls;
sharp narrowing or dilation of blood vessels - as a result of nervous shocks or hormonal changes, a sharp narrowing or dilation of blood vessels is possible - for example, with fear, anger or other strong emotions;
diseases of the endocrine glands.

Normal blood pressure is determined by a combination of a large number of parameters, and for each age, gender and for an individual person, its indicators can vary greatly. Medical standards are taken as average values from healthy people of a certain age. It has long been proven that blood pressure of 120/80 cannot and should not be considered the ideal norm for people of different ages.

To find out what normal blood pressure a person should have at different age periods, you can use the following table.

Blood pressure indicators for an adult:

Normal blood pressure is considered to be between 110\70 and 130\85 mm. rt. Art.
Low normal pressure – 110\70 – 100\60;
Low blood pressure – hypotension – below 100\60;
Increased normal pressure – 130\85-139\89;
High blood pressure - hypertension - more than 140\90 mm. rt. Art.

Indicators of normal blood pressure for different age periods:

16 – 20 years – 100\70 – 120\80 mm. rt. Art.
20 – 40 years – 120\70-130\80;
40 -60 – up to 140\90;
over 60 years old – up to 150\90 mm. rt. Art.

From the table above, it is clear that the older a person is, the higher the normal blood pressure indicators; this is due to age-related changes in blood vessels, in the heart muscle and in other organs. High blood pressure, like low blood pressure, can cause various health problems, but in order to determine whether changes in blood pressure are to blame for poor health, you need to measure it regularly and keep a special diary. For this, several trips to the clinic or visits to the doctor are not enough; only daily regular blood pressure measurements can give correct results.

Measurement.

The correct diagnosis and prescription of treatment largely depends on the correct measurement of blood pressure, because the doctor, when prescribing medicine or prescribing treatment, is largely guided by the measurement numbers.

Today there are different ways to measure pressure:

The simplest and oldest - using a cuff and a tonometer - here it is of great importance to correctly apply the cuff, the ability to use a tonometer and listen to heart sounds. This measurement requires special training and skills, but when used correctly, it gives fairly accurate and reliable results.
Electrotonometer - the operating principle is the same, but the results are visible on a special display. This makes it easier to measure your blood pressure yourself and provides more accurate results. But such blood pressure monitors often break down and may show incorrect numbers.

Regardless of the method used to measure blood pressure, several general rules must be followed:

before the measurement, half an hour before the start, avoid physical activity, nervous tension, smoking, eating, and so on,
relax, sit comfortably when measuring,
the posture should be comfortable, the back should be straight, there must be support, the hand should rest freely at the level of the patient’s chest,
you cannot talk or move during the measurement,
The measurement should be carried out on both hands and it is advisable to carry out a series of measurements with an interval of 5-10 minutes.

If, after correctly measuring blood pressure, the readings are very different from the norm, you need to repeat the measurements within a few days and, if confirmed, consult a doctor.

High blood pressure.

Considered one of the most dangerous diseases of mankind, hypertension affects about 25% of people worldwide, and this figure continues to increase. Hypertension is an increase in blood pressure above 140/90 mmHg. rt. Art. Causes of hypertension can be:

overweight,
genetic predisposition,
diseases of internal organs,
lack of physical activity,
smoking and drinking alcohol,
excessive consumption of table salt,
nervous tension,
other factors.

With hypertension, the patient suffers from headaches (and here pills for headaches will not help), shortness of breath, heart pain, increased fatigue, insomnia, poor health and other symptoms. In addition, the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, brain damage, pathology of the urinary system and eye diseases increases.

Treatment of hypertension is a very complex and time-consuming process, where the outcome of the disease depends on compliance with the doctor’s recommendations. It is important to find the cause of the increase in pressure and act on it. At the same time providing symptomatic treatment. In each specific case, medications, doses and their combinations must be selected individually by the attending physician.

Without timely treatment or uncontrolled use of medications, hypertension can not only seriously damage health, but also cause a life-threatening condition such as hypertensive crisis.

Hypertensive crisis.

Hypertensive crisis is a life-threatening condition caused by a sharp increase in blood pressure and damage to the nervous system and target organs. Blood pressure figures during a hypertensive crisis can vary greatly in different patients - some people normally tolerate 200\150 mm. rt. st, and for some people feel bad already at 150\85 mm. rt. Art. The nature of the lesions in GC depends on which organs previously had the pathology - if the heart hurts, myocardial infarction may occur, if you suffer from headaches, then a stroke, and so on.

The causes of GC may be:

psycho-emotional stress,
exercise stress,
meteorological changes,
drinking alcohol,
rich foods high in salt,
incorrectly selected antihypertensive drugs,
diseases of the endocrine system and internal organs.

With the development of GC, the patient’s well-being sharply worsens, a feeling of fear and anxiety arises, nausea, vomiting, darkness before the eyes, swelling and flushing of the face, chills, tremors of the limbs, fainting, and even coma may appear.

If such symptoms appear, you need to lay the patient on any flat surface with the head of the bed raised and immediately call an ambulance. Before her arrival, try to provide the patient with peace, an influx of fresh air, and get rid of restrictive clothing. If the patient has had hypertension for a long time, then, most likely, he is taking some kind of antihypertensive drug, in this case, before the doctor arrives, you can give the patient the usual dosage.

Hypotension, low blood pressure.

For many people, especially those suffering from hypertension, it seems that lowering blood pressure cannot be a problem, but in fact this is not the case. Constantly low blood pressure can cause no less inconvenience and health problems than hypertension.

The causes of this pathology can be hereditary predisposition, poor nutrition and vitamin deficiency, endocrine diseases, nervous strain, general exhaustion of the body and other problems.

A person suffering from hypotension constantly feels tired, overwhelmed, has difficulty performing daily duties and is emotionally inhibited. In addition, there is a decrease in memory and brain activity, poor thermoregulation, increased sweating, headaches, drowsiness, pain in the joints and muscles, and a general feeling of poor health.

Although, unlike hypertension, hypotension does not cause serious health problems, it also requires treatment. Only a doctor can determine the cause of hypotension and prescribe treatment after a detailed examination. And without medical help, we can advise you to establish a work and rest schedule, eat well, not be nervous and give up bad habits.

Original article https://tibet-medicine.ru/sovrmed/normalnoe-davlenie-cheloveka

Causes of low blood pressure in older people

Low blood pressure in older people can be either a primary, underlying disease or a symptomatic consequence of other diseases. Primary hypotension is called when this condition is not accompanied by other diseases. Otherwise, we are talking about symptomatic hypotension.

Many people are interested in why low blood pressure occurs in an elderly person, what is the cause of this condition. It is difficult to figure out what to do when diastolic pressure is low. The causes in older people directly depend on the type of hypotension. The acute form is a consequence of heart attacks, blood loss, intracardiac blockade, severe arrhythmia, and an allergic reaction. In case of acute hypotension, it is important to provide first aid to the person in a timely manner.

Primary hypotension is an independent disease manifested in the form of neurocirculatory asthenia.

Physiological hypotension is a hereditary disease; in other words, it is the body’s predisposition to low blood pressure. An elderly person is already accustomed to this condition, and since the readings are not much lower than normal, they are practically the norm for low blood pressure in older people.

The main reason for low blood pressure in an elderly person is prolonged psycho-emotional stress, which gives rise to neurosis of the vasomotor centers of the brain. Severe stress, in which a person is under for a long time, causes a drop in pressure, and, as a result, primary hypotension. It is also possible that this disease may develop due to an overdose of medications for hypertension. Another cause of hypotension is a lack of vitamins B5, C, E.

Causes of primary hypotension:

frequent neuroses;
psychotrauma;
chronic lack of sleep and fatigue;
depressive states of a person and apathy towards everything.

Causes of symptomatic hypotension:

stomach ulcer;
arrhythmia;
rheumatism;
anemia;
cervical osteochondrosis;
problems with blood circulation;
heart failure;
hepatitis, etc.

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Norm and deviation

Blood pressure 90/60 – what does this mean? The doctor receives information about blood pressure based on the indicators determined by the tonometer. The first number is systolic (upper) - indicates the time of contraction of the heart muscle. The second - diastolic (lower) - shows the pressure of the blood during the period of its pushing into the arteries.

Important! Doctors take 120/80 mm as the physiological norm. rt. Art.

Blood pressure levels can fluctuate and largely depend on a person’s current emotional and physical state. If blood pressure drops only periodically, then there is no cause for concern. But if low pressure is a constant condition, then it is necessary to find the reasons for such a deviation.

In some cases, the blood pressure level is 90(99)/60(66) mm. rt. Art. is considered by doctors as the norm. This statement applies to people with an asthenic body type, teenagers. In addition, many women feel great with this level of pressure.

Another group of people whose “working” blood pressure is 110(120)/70(80), if it decreases to the level of 90/60, begin to experience unpleasant symptoms. In this case, it is necessary to consult a therapist.

Critical low blood pressure in an elderly person: first aid

Low diastolic pressure in older people is a dangerous condition, so the first thing to do is call an ambulance. While waiting for medical workers, if the patient has already lost consciousness or it seems that this may happen to him, it is necessary to provide assistance independently, in particular:

put the elderly person on his back;
open a window to provide access to fresh air;
unbutton the shirt collar to free the chest area and neck from clothing;
if the person is conscious, give him drops for hypotension;
do a rubbing massage in the direction from the ankles up.

Medicine that is recommended for low blood pressure in older people is not always at hand, so you can use improvised means - give the person strong coffee, give 2 tablets of caffeine-containing citramon. But you should definitely check whether the patient with low blood pressure has heart disease and whether he can use blood thinning medications.

You can help a person in such a situation and slightly increase blood pressure by using acupuncture. Find a point under your nose, press it with your finger, hold for a minute, release and repeat similar manipulations 5 to 10 times. Another way is to raise a person’s legs above his head, for example, by throwing them over the headboard of a bed or sofa, placing high pillows under his feet, etc. All this can be done while waiting for the doctors to arrive. Doing this will help prevent loss of consciousness due to low blood pressure and potential injuries from falling.

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Consequences and prognosis

Against the background of a constant decrease in blood pressure, the organs and tissues of the body do not receive the oxygen they need in full. In this case, the brain cells suffer the most. Hypoxia (oxygen starvation) causes the development of cognitive disorders: a person’s memory decreases, concentration and coordination are impaired. In old age, senile dementia develops.

Complications of hypotension may include:

injuries sustained after fainting;
visual impairment;
heart, kidney failure;
ischemic stroke;
neurological pathologies;
depressive states.

Predicting the outcome of the disease is quite difficult. It all depends on the effectiveness of blood pressure level correction.

Primary hypotension is difficult to treat. Blood pressure can be normalized in approximately 70% of all diagnosed cases. But this condition does not pose a particular threat to human life. A decrease in pressure to the level of 90/60 can occur for various reasons. And if the condition is accompanied by poor health, then the person needs to consult a doctor.

How to increase low blood pressure in an elderly person at home

If your blood pressure suddenly drops, but the readings are not critical, do not panic. We will tell you how to increase low blood pressure in an elderly person at home.

One of the simplest and most widely known ways to increase blood pressure is to drink strong coffee. Caffeine helps dilate blood vessels and helps give the body a boost of energy. The drink helps especially well those older people who drink it rarely, about once a week. For those who drink coffee every day, it will be more difficult, because... It will not be possible to obtain the desired effect with low blood pressure if the body is already accustomed to caffeine.
Strong sweet tea will help raise blood pressure and tone the body.
Regular salt will come to the rescue. By eating something salty or even just putting a little salt on the tongue, an elderly person can alleviate his condition.
Honey combined with cinnamon is considered one of the fastest ways to increase low blood pressure, and the effect remains for a long period. Take half a teaspoon of cinnamon and dissolve it in a glass of boiling water, add one spoon of honey. Wait half an hour for the drink to infuse, after which you can drink it. Or you can make it simpler: spread honey on a piece of bread, sprinkle cinnamon on top and eat this sandwich.
You can eat something fatty, of course, it is better not to eat fatty foods too often, but if there is no other way to cope with a sharp drop in blood pressure, then you can use this one.
Consuming glucose or refined sugar will also help raise your blood pressure. Glucose is sold in pharmacies in tablets.
Cognac or red wine, but it is important to know the limit - no more than 50 grams per day. Usually cognac is added to coffee or tea.

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Working in hazardous industries

The development of arterial hypotension is promoted by: working underground, in an atmosphere of high humidity and high temperature, with prolonged exposure to small doses of ionizing radiation, ultra-high-frequency electromagnetic fields, and intoxication with chemicals.

Exit

► If arterial hypotension is caused by occupational hazards, it is better to transfer to another job.

► Hardening. Daily douches, rubdowns, and contrast showers have worked well for hypotensive patients. These procedures are based on a tonic effect not only on the skin’s vascular system, vascular tone, but also on the immune system.

Traditional medications for hypotension

We have already figured out what low blood pressure means in an elderly person. This is a serious illness, and it is often impossible to cope with it using only home methods, because... the use of special medications that normalize blood pressure is required. Caffeine remains the most popular remedy for hypotension.

But besides it, other groups of drugs are also used:

Psychomotor stimulants.

They help an elderly person cope with weakness and chronic fatigue syndrome. Thanks to stimulants, the hypotensive person becomes functional, lethargy and drowsiness disappear, and the normal state is normalized. The most popular drugs from this medicinal group: Sydnofen, Mesocarb, Sydnocarb, etc.

Analeptic drugs

Improves the functioning of the cardiovascular system and respiratory organs. After using them, older people with low blood pressure begin to feel better, their overall tone and mood improve. This group includes the following drugs: Cordiamine, Centedrin and similar ones.

Adrenomimetic drugs

These drugs are necessary to increase both diastolic and systolic pressure, so their use is justified only in very difficult cases. They are designed to ensure normal blood circulation. These are Regulton, Gutron, Fethanol, etc.

Nootropics

This group of products is intended to optimize metabolic processes in the central nervous system and normalize blood circulation. Thanks to taking such medications, an elderly person’s memory improves and the learning process is facilitated. Phenibut, Pantogam, Piracetam, Aminalon, etc. are considered effective nootropic drugs.

We must not forget about the need to take complex vitamin preparations, especially if we are talking about an exacerbation of the disease.

If drug treatment for low blood pressure in older people is carried out at home, it is necessary to strictly adhere to the dosage prescribed by the doctor. If your condition worsens after taking medications, then immediately contact a specialist to adjust treatment taking into account the characteristics of the course of the disease in each individual case.

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Causes of the pathological condition

Low blood pressure is a rather unpleasant condition. There are many options why blood pressure may drop. They are not always associated with health problems. Sometimes physiological hypotension occurs, in which the patient has low tonometer readings, but they do not affect performance and health.

8 main reasons as a result of which a person’s blood pressure periodically drops:

congenital, genetic pathology;
emotional and physical overload;
constant stress, depression;
heart failure;
bleeding;
hot climate, high air temperature;
fluctuations in weather;
taking medications, side effects.

In some patients, low blood pressure is associated with a congenital feature. People with such pathological phenomena suffer from a large number of problems with the body. Often, a predisposition to hypotension is passed on from a parent suffering from similar diseases. As a rule, this affects the female part of the population. Children with this disease are inactive, lethargic and get tired faster compared to their peers.

A sudden drop in blood pressure can occur due to severe physical stress when the body is exhausted. Professional dancers and athletes often encounter this. In their case, a slow pulse and low blood pressure are the body’s protective reaction to regular physical activity.

Also, a sharp deviation from the norm can occur due to prolonged psycho-emotional stress. Intense mental stress: preparing for exams or being overwhelmed at work can affect the functioning of the cardiac system.

Find out how coffee affects joint health

A decrease in blood pressure is observed with a sedentary lifestyle and lack of exercise. If muscles do not receive moderate exercise, they begin to decrease in volume, which impairs the functional properties of the heart, disrupts metabolism and reduces ventilation of the lungs.

The reason why blood pressure drops sharply may be hidden in harmful working conditions. This applies to earthworks, activities at high temperatures and high humidity.

Deviations from the norm are also possible with heart failure, which develops due to diseases in the system. The organ begins to slowly pump blood, which as a result negatively affects vascular tone and leads to a drop in pressure. In addition, blood pressure decreases in the case of diseases of the central nervous system, pathologies in the thyroid gland, adrenal glands and respiratory organs. It happens that blood pressure after surgery may deviate from normal values, causing dizziness and poor health.

There are cases when a pathological process occurs - collapse (fallen), which is characterized by sudden cardiovascular failure. It is characterized by:

loss of consciousness;
reducing blood flow and circulation mass;
a sharp decrease in pressure.

The values may drop if a person spends a long time in the sun in hot weather or relaxes in a sauna, since the effect of temperature on the body leads to dilation of blood vessels. Many people's bodies are sensitive to weather conditions, so the tonometer reading may decrease depending on weather changes.

Some drugs can cause a number of side effects. In the case of low blood pressure, the causes may be hidden in the medications and sedatives taken by a person and their effect on the body.

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Traditional methods of dealing with low blood pressure

There are many traditional ways to combat low blood pressure, but we must not forget that different people may react to them differently.

Immortelle decoction

To prepare it, take a tablespoon of immortelle flowers, pour boiling water (250 ml) and keep in a water bath for 15 minutes. After this, you can strain the broth and take it. This amount of ingredients is calculated for the daily dose. The effect can be obtained if you drink the decoction three times a day - 1/3 cup before each meal.

St. John's wort decoction

It is advisable to consult a specialist before taking St. John's wort decoction for low blood pressure. The recommended daily dose of the decoction is no more than 250 ml, and it must be adhered to. The course of treatment is no more than a month; a decoction is prepared by analogy with immortelle decoction.

Infusion of calamus, burdock, chicory

This infusion is prepared from the roots of burdock, chicory and calamus. 100 grams of each ingredient are crushed and mixed, poured into a liter jar, which is then filled with water to the brim. The jar should be placed in a dark place for 10 days. After the specified period, take the infusion 5 drops, dissolving them in a tablespoon of water. The infusion is drunk three times a day for three weeks.

Grape or pomegranate juice

Grape or pomegranate juice can do an excellent job of increasing blood pressure. Of course, the best effect will come from fresh; store-bought will not work, since it is canned. Buy dark grapes, squeeze the juice out of them, preferably before eating. Dosage – half a glass twice a day, course of administration – two weeks. Pomegranate juice will help cope with dizziness and headaches.

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Headaches with low blood pressure

Headaches with low blood pressure can vary in nature and intensity. They can increase quickly if pressure readings decrease sharply, or accompany the patient constantly. The following features are characteristic of pain due to hypotension:

lack of precise localization - discomfort spreads to the entire surface of the head;
additional symptoms: nausea and dizziness;
chronic course, with alternating periods of relief and exacerbation.

If your blood pressure is constantly low and your head hurts, this indicator must be maintained with medication. With prolonged use, migraine may develop. This is an acute headache that does not go away even after normalization of blood pressure and significantly affects performance.

Prevention of hypotension in the elderly

To prevent the development of hypotension and related diseases, older people should follow a number of recommendations:

Try not to overwork and avoid stress.
Drink 1.5 to 2 liters of liquid per day.
Be active and mobile.
Take frequent walks in the fresh air.
Eat more herbs, spices and salt.
Do general strengthening exercises.
Limit hot baths, replacing them with contrast showers.
Reduce the amount of carbohydrates in food to prevent surges in blood pressure and blood sugar.