I am on a blood pressure pill to help with
my NueroCardioGenicSyncope and Blood
Pressure and my question is that my blood
pressure gets real low. I took it the
other night and it was 83/50. Is that to
low? My heart rate was in the high 40's.
Is that Safe?
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DoctorAnswer
Doctor Answer
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High Blood Pressure, Hypertension, High Cholesterol Answer A Posted: 01-17-07 03:53am
Syncope is defined as a sudden loss of
consciousness due to sudden and transitory
hypotension (low blood pressure). Syncope
disturbs brain perfusion. Neurocardiogenic
syncope (also called vasovagal syncope) is
one of many types of loss of consciousness
due to low blood pressure. The blood flow
in the brain reduces and loss of
consciousness occurs due to low blood
pressure. Before losing consciousness
symptoms like blurred vision, dizziness,
weakness, nausea, etc. can be present.
Normal blood pressure is defined as a
systolic reading within the range 90-130
mmHg and a diastolic reading in the range
60-80 mmHg. Low blood pressure is defined
as blood pressure 20 mmHg under the USUAL
values. This means that a reading that is
low for one person can be normal for
somebody else.
According to the etiology (cause of low
blood pressure) there are generally 2
types of syncope:
I. NON-CARDIOGENIC and
II. CARDIOGENIC
Non-cardiocenic syncope includes several
types:
1. NEUROCARDIOGENIC (VASOVAGAL) SYNCOPE.
– Neurocardiogenic syncope is due to an
abnormal response of the neurvous system
(sympaticus and parasympaticus) to an
outside trigger. During the response, the
parasympaticus becomes overactive (it
overcomes the sympaticus) and can cause
vasodilatation and decrease in heart rate
(bradycardia). Vasodilatation and
bradycardia themselves cause low blood
pressure (hypotension) and loss of
consciousness. A person who experiences
vasovagal syncope recovers very quickly
(in a few minutes at most). There could be
many triggers for vasovagal syncope:
emotional distress, including panic
attacks, anxiety attacks or fear; standing
in a hot, crowded area; having a bowel
movement (especially if straining);
coughing strenuously; unpleasant
situations, such as the sight of blood;
urinating; standing in one place too long;
breathing too fast (hyperventilation);
severe dehydration; severe pain, and heat
exposure.
2. ORTHOSTATIC SYNCOPE – Orthostatic
syncope is also caused by an improper
response of the nervous system. During
this type of syncope, the sympaticus
nervous system fails when the body comes
into a straight position.
3. CEREBROVASCULAR SYNCOPE –
Cerebrovascular syncope is due to a brain
insult.
4. EPILEPTIC SYNCOPE – Eplileptic
syncope is due to seizures.
5. SINUS CAROTICUS SYNDROME – Sinus
Caroticus Syndrome is due to
hypersensitivity of the the sinus
caroticus found in the carotid artery. An
overactive sinus caroticus causes
vasodilatation and bradycardia that leads
to low blood pressure. Pressure on the
sinus caroticus during shaving, wearing a
tight tie around the neck, sudden neck
rotation, etc. can stimullate the sinus
caroticus to overactivity.
6. MEDICINAL SYNCOPE – Medicinal
syncope is due to the side effects of many
medicines such as: anesthetics,
anti-anxiety drugs, antihypertensive
drugs, drugs for treating coronary heart
disease (CHD), diuretics, heart medicines,
some antidepressants, narcotics, alcohol
etc.
CARDIOGENIC syncope is due to a heart
disorder:
1. Valvular disorders;
2. Heart attack;
3. Congenital heart diseases;
4. Lung embolism;
5. Heart arrhythmias, etc.
Finally,it seems that there is some
confusion in your question because two
opposite disorders are mentioned in your
pre-existing conditions: hypertension and
syncope. Anti-hypertensive drugs can cause
syncope if not used properly.
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