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What Causes Low Bp With Dizziness?
Question: My daughter has low blood pressure. She has blacked out before and just dropped to the ground. This morning she described as feeling light headed, then slid down the wall to the ground and laid on her stomach with no control of her body as it "shook". She said that her body felt heavy and she couldn't move it. She blacked out but could hear noises around her.
She is 15 years old and not on any drugs.
After the initail episode the doctor simply said she has low blood pressure and it's normal to feel dizzy. This is more that just dizzy and to me doesn't seem "normal" at all.
She is 15 years old and not on any drugs.
After the initail episode the doctor simply said she has low blood pressure and it's normal to feel dizzy. This is more that just dizzy and to me doesn't seem "normal" at all.
Brief Answer:
i hope you don't mind giving some more details
Detailed Answer:
Hi Mrs XXXXXXX
I can confess there is nothing to be worried about.
However, i hope you don't mind giving some more details:
1.how often does she get this fainting (or so called) attacks?
2.do you see any relation to her menstrual cycles?
3.has she had general blood tests done ever before?
4.how much time she felt dizzy???
5.did she ever seem to be in a confused state after she woke up?
6.what was her measured blood pressure?
these are lot of questions, yes....but i just wanted to make sure that she gets the correct diagnosis.
hope i am clear.
i hope you don't mind giving some more details
Detailed Answer:
Hi Mrs XXXXXXX
I can confess there is nothing to be worried about.
However, i hope you don't mind giving some more details:
1.how often does she get this fainting (or so called) attacks?
2.do you see any relation to her menstrual cycles?
3.has she had general blood tests done ever before?
4.how much time she felt dizzy???
5.did she ever seem to be in a confused state after she woke up?
6.what was her measured blood pressure?
these are lot of questions, yes....but i just wanted to make sure that she gets the correct diagnosis.
hope i am clear.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
She feels light headed every time she gets up however as I have low blood pressure I realize that's normal.
This is the second time that this has happened in the last few months and I don't believe it is associated with her menstrual cycle.
She has had blood tests done after the first "instance" I believe her thyroid was tested as I have hypothyrodism as well as for anemia and I'm not certain for what else.
When she wakes up she is normally not confused.
I'm sorry I don't know what her blood pressure was actually measured at. It was low but not so low it had to be "treated".
She eats healthy and does get exercise. She is over 5'8 and weights about 138. Do you think it's her diet? Maybe too few calories or sugar spikes?
This is the second time that this has happened in the last few months and I don't believe it is associated with her menstrual cycle.
She has had blood tests done after the first "instance" I believe her thyroid was tested as I have hypothyrodism as well as for anemia and I'm not certain for what else.
When she wakes up she is normally not confused.
I'm sorry I don't know what her blood pressure was actually measured at. It was low but not so low it had to be "treated".
She eats healthy and does get exercise. She is over 5'8 and weights about 138. Do you think it's her diet? Maybe too few calories or sugar spikes?
Brief Answer:
A definite syncope attack.
Detailed Answer:
She defenitely had general syncopes, and is not a concern.
Generally, low blood pressure is the commonest cause of frequent faints in girls. keep a watch on her salt intake, see if it matches the demand..like playing out can throw significant salt through sweat making them prone to hypotension.
These faintings are very common in that age group, and anemia can bring them frequently.During puberty, at the time of rapid growth, they can easily turn anemic if calories are not in commensurate with requirements. (she seems to be eating normally)
other things that are possible:
Postural Hypotension (sudden reduction in brain blood flow due to rapid fall of blood pressure while standing due to pooling of blood in legs) can be heriditory.
It could be menstrual related like during ovulation (mid cycle which is difficult to correlate) or menstrualtion (you denied this)
whatever be the cause, the solution lies in increasing the salt intake. a few more grams of salt per day in the form of liquids for few weeks could show significant improvement.
I would also suggest you to keep a check on her thyroid status, hemoglobin and serum electrolytes for the sake of completion.
Hope i was good enough to clear your doubts. thank you and all the best.
A definite syncope attack.
Detailed Answer:
She defenitely had general syncopes, and is not a concern.
Generally, low blood pressure is the commonest cause of frequent faints in girls. keep a watch on her salt intake, see if it matches the demand..like playing out can throw significant salt through sweat making them prone to hypotension.
These faintings are very common in that age group, and anemia can bring them frequently.During puberty, at the time of rapid growth, they can easily turn anemic if calories are not in commensurate with requirements. (she seems to be eating normally)
other things that are possible:
Postural Hypotension (sudden reduction in brain blood flow due to rapid fall of blood pressure while standing due to pooling of blood in legs) can be heriditory.
It could be menstrual related like during ovulation (mid cycle which is difficult to correlate) or menstrualtion (you denied this)
whatever be the cause, the solution lies in increasing the salt intake. a few more grams of salt per day in the form of liquids for few weeks could show significant improvement.
I would also suggest you to keep a check on her thyroid status, hemoglobin and serum electrolytes for the sake of completion.
Hope i was good enough to clear your doubts. thank you and all the best.
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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