When is blood pressure too low

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Clinical Trials. Share this on:. If your blood pressure is too low, you may be at risk of hypotension, or low blood pressure.

So how low is too low? Blood pressure is the measure of how hard your blood pushes against the walls of your arteries as it moves through your body. Your body is designed to adjust your blood pressure to make sure your organs and tissue receive enough oxygen. The systolic number the top number indicates how hard your blood pushes when your heart pumps, and the diastolic number the bottom number measures how hard your blood pushes between heartbeats when your heart relaxes and fills with blood.

But how low is too low for blood pressure? Since factors, like age, weight, and level of physical activity contribute to blood pressure, your doctor may not diagnose you with hypotension even if your blood pressure is a little low. If you have one or more of these symptoms and suspect your blood pressure is low, talk to your doctor. Low blood pressure after eating postprandial hypotension.

This drop in blood pressure occurs one to two hours after eating and affects mostly older adults. Blood flows to your digestive tract after you eat. Ordinarily, your body increases your heart rate and constricts certain blood vessels to help maintain normal blood pressure. But in some people these mechanisms fail, leading to dizziness, faintness and falls. Postprandial hypotension is more likely to affect people with high blood pressure or autonomic nervous system disorders such as Parkinson's disease.

Eating small, low-carbohydrate meals; drinking more water; and avoiding alcohol might help reduce symptoms. Low blood pressure hypotension can occur in anyone, though certain types of low blood pressure are more common depending on your age or other factors:. Even moderate forms of low blood pressure can cause dizziness, weakness, fainting and a risk of injury from falls.

And severely low blood pressure can deprive your body of enough oxygen to carry out its functions, leading to damage to your heart and brain. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.

This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Low blood pressure might seem desirable, and for some people, it causes no problems. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Low blood pressure. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Accessed Feb.