Symptoms That Could Mean Your Blood Pressure Is Too Low

Low blood pressure (hypotension) is commonly overlooked because it may cause no symptoms, or its symptoms could be present in other conditions. Blood pressure is the force exerted by blood on artery walls, with low blood pressure defined as less than 90/60 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg).

Jump to Key Takeaways.

1. Dizziness

Dizziness, which may be described as vertigo (a feeling that the room is spinning), lightheadedness, or unsteadiness, may occur as a result of poor blood flow to the brain.

In some cases, if the blood pressure is too low, fainting (syncope) may occur. Fainting is a transient loss of consciousness caused by a decrease in oxygen and nutrients reaching the brain.

2. Fatigue

Fatigue can manifest as physical exhaustion or weakness, mental tiredness, often described as “brain fog,” or a combination of both.

Fatigue as a symptom of chronic low blood pressure can be particularly problematic because it’s linked to depression, increased irritability, and diminished productivity and memory skills.

3. Confusion

Confusion and cognitive difficulties, like problems with attention or memory, can occur with low blood pressure as a result of the brain not receiving enough oxygen and nutrients.

4. Heart Palpitations

Heart palpitations are the perception, often unpleasant, of one’s heartbeat, usually described as a racing, pounding, skipping, or fluttering sensation within the chest.

With low blood pressure, heart palpitations typically reflect the heart beating faster to compensate for the reduced force of blood circulation throughout the body.

5. Blurry Vision

Dimmed, distorted, or blurry vision can occur if there is a significant drop in blood pressure due to reduced blood flow to the eyes and the brain.

Less commonly, a painless, sudden loss of vision in one eye—called an eye stroke—may occur from reduced blood pressure.

6. Head/Shoulder/Neck Pain

Cramping or aching pain in the shoulders, neck, and/or back of the head may occur with low blood pressure, particularly orthostatic hypotension (reviewed below), in which blood pressure suddenly drops when standing up after sitting or lying down.

Experts suspect this type of pain, which is known as “coat hanger pain,” stems from restricted blood flow to the muscles in the neck and shoulder.

7. Nausea and/or Vomiting

Nausea and/or vomiting are common phenomena associated with low blood pressure, especially after surgery or in individuals with orthostatic hypotension.

This symptom is believed to occur because arteries (blood vessels carrying oxygen-rich blood) feeding the gut may narrow in an effort to increase blood pressure.

In addition, diminished blood flow to the brainstem, which controls vomiting, may also contribute.

8. Cold Limbs

Cold hands, feet, arms, and legs are a potential symptom of low blood pressure, especially when chronic.

This symptom is explained by the fact that with low blood pressure, arteries narrow to increase blood flow to vital organs like the brain, heart, liver, and kidneys.

As a result, blood flow is diverted away from the limbs, causing them to become cool and the skin to sometimes turn a bluish color.

9. Breathlessness

Breathlessness or trouble breathing is a less common symptom of low blood pressure, and if present, may occur as a result of the following:

• An imbalance between air entering the lungs and blood pumped by the heart into the lungs for oxygenation.
• The activation of chemoreceptors (sensory nerve cells that detect low levels of oxygen in the blood).

10. Chest Pain or Discomfort

Chest pain or discomfort—what’s known as angina—is also a less common symptom of low blood pressure and may develop if blood flow to the heart muscle is restricted.

Angina is often felt beneath the breastbone, described as a heavy, tight, or pressure-like feeling, and is typically relieved with rest.

Besides the chest area, angina can also be felt in the shoulders, arms, neck, back, throat, jaw, or teeth.

What Is Causing My Blood Pressure to Be Low?

Low blood pressure can be transient or chronic and potentially reversible, depending on the underlying cause.

One type of hypotension is orthostatic hypotension, a sudden reduction in blood pressure that occurs when a person transitions from a lying to a sitting position or from a sitting to a standing position. It can have many causes, like medications, dehydration, dysregulated autonomic nervous system, deconditioning, acute blood loss, adrenal issues, or infection.

Possible causes of hypotension include:

• Dehydration: This may result from vomiting, diarrhea, or poor fluid intake.
• Medication side effects: Examples include “water pills” (diuretics) or drugs used to treat high blood pressure.
• Pregnancy: This leads to hormone-related widening of blood vessels to increase blood flow to the baby.
• Dysregulated autonomic nervous system: This is seen with conditions like Parkinson’s disease or diabetes.
• Heart conditions: This includes heart failure or abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias).
• Shock: Types include anaphylactic shock (life-threatening allergic reaction), septic shock (life-threatening reaction to a severe infection), or hemorrhagic shock (sudden and significant loss of blood).

When Should I Seek Emergency Medical Care?

Call 911 if you are experiencing stroke or heart attack symptoms, like changes in vision, new or severe headache, chest pain, or difficulty breathing.

Also, call 911 for any major trauma and/or concern for internal bleeding, inability to keep fluids down, or potential signs of shock (e.g., cold, clammy skin, fast breathing, or a weak or fast heartbeat).

Key Takeaways

• Low blood pressure, defined as less than 90/60 (mm Hg), may cause no symptoms, but the presence of symptoms necessitates medical attention.
• Possible symptoms can include dizziness, fainting, fatigue, confusion, nausea, blurry vision, racing heartbeat, and neck pain.
• See your healthcare provider if you are experiencing symptoms of low blood pressure. Undertaking a thorough evaluation to identify the root cause is crucial in preventing complications.