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What Causes Headaches And Blurred Vision When Suffering From Low Blood Pressure?

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Posted on Mon, 7 Jul 2014
Question: My blood pressure is still low but has come up - now 90/60. I gained 1 pound which has me at 100 now. I still have pain occassionally in back under left shoulder blade to just below waist. Still have dull headache across top of front of head - ct scan taken just shown some plaque build up - nothing significant according to my doctor. 2d echo cardigram was normal - no blockages. Some tenderness in mid section to right of navel. Was in hospital for 6 days with UTI in May. Tested urinalysis on 6/13 and only had slight level of white blood cells. Given new prescriptiion of a steriod to help raise blood pressure but had allergic reaction. Doctor suggests opthamologist for eye exam since I still have off and on blurred vision. All symptoms have now been over 5 weeks long. What should I do now?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Prakash H Muddegowda (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Try non-pharmacological measures.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
My name is Dr. Prakash HM and I would like to help you with your questions.
I assume your Blood pressure was within normal limits before 5 weeks, and now it is 90/60. However, you are not complaining of any dizziness and I hope you do not have.
Many tests have been done to rule out various causes of hypotension and everything was negative, which is good. Low blood pressure, if it does not cause any major symptoms usually rarely requires treatment.
Steroids are usually prescribed in hypotension as it helps boost blood volume. As you are allergic to it, you need to look for other options.
I always look into medications first. Among your medications, I noticed Clonozapem, possibly prescribed for fibromyalgia. One of the side effects of Clonozapem is dizziness secondary to hypotension. Was its dosage recently increased. Do you need to take three times a day or can you take only at night?
If you have done so many investigations, I expect the thyroid profile would have also been checked and synthyroid dose adjusted. If not, hypothyroidism can cause hypotension.
You have allergies to various medications. You can try a few non-pharmacological measures like increased salt intake, more water, more caffeine and crepe bandage or stockings to lower limb to increase the blood flow in the upper parts (It should not be too tight to cause pain or pressure ulcers)
One risk I usually tell in hypotensive cases is that of fall, especially while getting up. You need to wake up slowly, try to use walking stick. Avoid falls at this age as healing takes a very long time and fractures are more common due to reduced bone mineral density.
You also need to take protein rich diet, not only to increase weight, but hypotension can occur secondary to low protein in blood. You are already with fatty liver, so protein levels could be down. Also nutritional supplementation like Vitamin B12 and folic acid is essential to improve the blood cells and the neural stimulus.
I suggest you to meet the ophthalmologist to identify your cause of off and on blurred vision.
Dull headache could be secondary to hypotension. Tenderness in midsection to right of navel could be secondary to muscle pain. Other tests done during you kidney test would have shown any internal pathology (if you had any). You can take NSAID pain killers.
Few WBC in urine is normal. If it is significant, it should be more than 5 wbc/high power field in microscopy.
Hope i was able to answer you queries. If you have any further questions, I will be happy to answer. Take care. Avoid injuries.

Dr. Prakash HM
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Prakash H Muddegowda (20 hours later)
I have had dizziness since 5/2/14 along with dull headache - that was the reason for the ct scan of brain. I only take the clonazapem at night to help with sleep disorder. Lunesta and Ambien were of no help in sleep aid. I take in at least 35 protein from protein plus bars daily along with my regular food. I am unable to eat a lot of white carbs (bread & potato's) as it will raise my diabetic level. I maintain diabetic level with strict diet. Could any of this be from effect of ecoli in kidney which created urinary tract infection which I was hospitalized for in May for 6 days? I also received B12 shot on Friday 6/13 but cannot tell any difference in energy level or feeling any better at all. Do you have any other suggestions?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Prakash H Muddegowda (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
continue treatment, avoid falls.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
E. coli infection of the urinary tract, if ongoing with septicemia could cause hypotension. Now that you are completely free from urinary tract infection, it would not be the cause.
In medication history, there was an indication of clonazepam - 3 times/day. If it is one time & bed time, it could not be the cause.
Vitamin B 12 injections would take around 15-20 days to show some response. You will slowly feel your energy coming back.
Protein requirement is 1g/kg body weight/day normally. You need to increase your diet intake to more than that.
If you still have dizziness and associated hypotension, and pharmacological therapies are causing allergic reactions, you need to try non-pharmacotherapeutic measures as earlier indicated.
Symptoms improvement would take at-least 15-20 days. Take precautions to avoid falls and injuries.
Check your thyroid profile. TSH, T3 and T4 levels. If it was done and it is normal, continue non-pharmacological measures for two weeks at-least to notice symptomatic improvement.
Do follow up later if you have any further queries.
Thanks for asking.
Dr. Prakash HM

Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Prakash H Muddegowda

Geriatrics Specialist

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 2138 Questions

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What Causes Headaches And Blurred Vision When Suffering From Low Blood Pressure?

Brief Answer: Try non-pharmacological measures. Detailed Answer: Hi, My name is Dr. Prakash HM and I would like to help you with your questions. I assume your Blood pressure was within normal limits before 5 weeks, and now it is 90/60. However, you are not complaining of any dizziness and I hope you do not have. Many tests have been done to rule out various causes of hypotension and everything was negative, which is good. Low blood pressure, if it does not cause any major symptoms usually rarely requires treatment. Steroids are usually prescribed in hypotension as it helps boost blood volume. As you are allergic to it, you need to look for other options. I always look into medications first. Among your medications, I noticed Clonozapem, possibly prescribed for fibromyalgia. One of the side effects of Clonozapem is dizziness secondary to hypotension. Was its dosage recently increased. Do you need to take three times a day or can you take only at night? If you have done so many investigations, I expect the thyroid profile would have also been checked and synthyroid dose adjusted. If not, hypothyroidism can cause hypotension. You have allergies to various medications. You can try a few non-pharmacological measures like increased salt intake, more water, more caffeine and crepe bandage or stockings to lower limb to increase the blood flow in the upper parts (It should not be too tight to cause pain or pressure ulcers) One risk I usually tell in hypotensive cases is that of fall, especially while getting up. You need to wake up slowly, try to use walking stick. Avoid falls at this age as healing takes a very long time and fractures are more common due to reduced bone mineral density. You also need to take protein rich diet, not only to increase weight, but hypotension can occur secondary to low protein in blood. You are already with fatty liver, so protein levels could be down. Also nutritional supplementation like Vitamin B12 and folic acid is essential to improve the blood cells and the neural stimulus. I suggest you to meet the ophthalmologist to identify your cause of off and on blurred vision. Dull headache could be secondary to hypotension. Tenderness in midsection to right of navel could be secondary to muscle pain. Other tests done during you kidney test would have shown any internal pathology (if you had any). You can take NSAID pain killers. Few WBC in urine is normal. If it is significant, it should be more than 5 wbc/high power field in microscopy. Hope i was able to answer you queries. If you have any further questions, I will be happy to answer. Take care. Avoid injuries. Dr. Prakash HM