Blood pressure

[*Emma*]

I know we have lots of nurses n stuff in here so i was wondering...

whats too high and whats too low? is it possible to be too low?

what can happen to me if mine gets too low and whats considered the borderline...

Does that make sense? lol

[kisstuck]

Re: Blood pressure

Generally normal blood pressure is considered 120/80. Too high is 140's over 90's. Stroke level is much higher, but your doctor is going to start getting concerned if it gets over 140/90.

Blood pressure usually won't get too low before you start having symptoms. like black outs. Lots of people function normally at 90's over 40's. If the bottom (dyastolic) number gets below 40 all of the time, you don't get proper circulation to your extremities.

Of course this is all just general guidelines. Docs worry more about high blood pressure unless your low blood pressure is causing you to have symptoms like passing out or dizziness and such.

[*Emma*]

Re: Blood pressure

yeah thats why i asked - i'm getting dizzy too often, just took mine and its at 106/56 i guess its not too low then, just deal with?

[kisstuck]

Re: Blood pressure

Are you getting dizzy mostly upon standing up? Lots of times your blood pressure will initially drop when you first stand up and if it is already 106/56, yours could drop low enough to cause a feeling of dizziness.

You can try taking your blood pressure lying down, then sitting up, then standing up and see if the numbers go down as you move from lying to standing. That is the general way docs tell if you are having positional hypotension which is not life threatening, just annoying!

If your dizziness is not related to first standing up, it could be several things: fluid in the inner ear (labrynthitis), sinus infection, dehydration....etc.

[*Emma*]

Re: Blood pressure

its when i stand up straight, for example, i was tyin my shoelaces earlier and i nearly fell from dizziness when i stood up straight, noticed it a lot over the last few days when ive been bent over and standing up.

any reason its just been over the last few days? am i doing something for it to get lower?

the only thing thats changed is lackof alcohol!! lol

[kisstuck]

Re: Blood pressure

LOL! Probably not the lack of alcohol! You definately are having positional hypotension, which is very annoying, but not lethal! Just recommend you stand slowly or take time to sit for a second before going from bending all the way over to jumping up.

I don't really have an answer as to why it is happening just for the last few days. It could be your body is going through an adjustment phase....like you may have lost a few pounds, therefore it takes less pressure to pump your blood around so your body is readjusting accordingly. In a few days your body should get itself back on track and the drop in pressure when you stand won't be so noticeable. If it causes you to black out or it just doesn't get any better and you are worried, see the doc for advice.

Hey, at least you didn't say your pressure was 212/134 or something astronomical!! I could be telling you to high tail it to the ER right away!!

[*Emma*]

Re: Blood pressure

thats not far off from my housemates LOL, thats the only reason i have the machine here, but hes got alcohol problems, though he wont admit it!

okay, thanks for your advice!! i feel better now, ive always had a low blood pressure but not something that has ever affected me in this way before!

[sallyseachange]

Re: Blood pressure

Tks for asking Emma (and for answering Kiss)... I'd forgotten what the normal range was.
Hope you feel better soon!

[Discolemonade]

Re: Blood pressure

I have that too Emma, when I stand, sometimes I have to hold on to the door jamb for a few seconds and let the dizzy pass, it's scary, I've felt so close to fainting from it but never have.

[Evermind]

Re: Blood pressure

Emma, not to worry. I get that for a few months every 4-5 years. Don't know why, don't know why it goes away. It's just part of my body's cycle, I guess.

On another note, I always had very low blood pressure (90/45) until I gained 100 lbs about 10 years ago, when it went up to 120/80.

I don't recall what happened the last time I did this woe, but I've been doing it again since July 29, and last week went in for a checkup, and it is already down to 100/60!