Low blood pressure

[Patjamber]

Hi everyone

My blood pressure appears to begetting Lower and lower today’s 71/56. I inject twice a week now as I don’t seem too survive on one anymore. Does anyone else suffer with this Or, know how I could address it. I take cut d and folic acid prescribed by the dr and have just completed a course of iron tablets. Just to add it does fluctuate but never gets back too normal any more Thank you

[Foggyme Administrator]

Hi Patjamber. Sorry to hear that you're still having problems with low blood pressure (hypotension).

And yes, I get this too...it's not good, is it. Mine always gets worse if I'm dehydrated, so I make sure to keep well hydrated. And standing up involves having to wait for the dizziness to pass until I can move on.

The Mayo Clinic (in the link below) suggest that adding salt to the diet may help (sodium in salt raises blood pressure, but talk to your GP before increasing salt intake - not advisable for some health conditions). Wearing compression/support stockings can also help.

Here's a short research paper that makes a link between vitamin B12 deficiency, hypotension and peripheral neuropathy:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Having said this, B12 deficiency is not the only cause of hypotension - there are many others (i.e. heart, thyroid or other endocrine problems, blood loss (not always visible), allergic reactions / infection, certain medications etc.), so it's always a good idea to discuss this with a GP so that any other potential causes can be ruled out.

And as yours appears to be getting worse despite treatment for your B12 deficiency, then I think seeing your GP to discuss this would be a very good idea - and 71/56 is very low. Low blood pressure is more difficult to treat than high blood pressure, but there are medications available to treat persistent hypotension, so again, worth discussing with your GP if it continues to be a problem.

And here's a link to more,information about hypotension, in general:

mayoclinic.org/diseases-con...

Low blood pressure can become a medical emergency (though not suggesting that this will be the case with you). However, if you suddenly become increasingly confused or semi-conscious, cold, clammy or pale, have rapid shallow breathing and a weak rapid pulse...and these symptoms remain and don't resolve, then seek urgent medical treatment.

Hope you find a way of managing this that works for you.

Good luck. 👍

[Patjamber]

Hi Foggyme thanks for the reply. It is strange you say about the salt as I have recently mad a conscious effort to cut back on this. Maybe not a wise move after all. Like you i have always got water within hands reach. You have given me food for thought actually, I had quite a big op just before Xmas and I feel that it has not healed properly internally The hospital haven’t discharged me as they want me to wait another six months too see if it heals itself. My low blood pressure has in fact got a lot worse since then, I think I will contact the hospital direct and see what they say Plus I have I’ll go back to my gp to get his advice

Thank you

[Foggyme Administrator in reply to Patjamber]

Good idea to check back with the hospital. Low BP can sometimes be due to invisible bleeding (internal) so worth having wound re-examined, even if only for peace of mind. And GP can help manage low BP on an ongoing basis. Good luck Patjamber. Hope all goes well.