Description A blood pressure th...
Description
A blood pressure that is too low to support bodily functions. It is often defined as a systolic pressure reading (the top number) that is less than 90 mmHg. However, some healthy people have blood pressures in this range and higher pressures may be too low for people used to much higher pressures. If insufficient blood is delivered to the cells of the body there will not be enough oxygen and other nutrients and the organs will begin to fail. Low blood pressure has many causes including: severe infection, blood loss, traumatic injuries to the chest or abdomen, heart attack, severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), heart arrhythmia, heart failure, medications, overdoses, and severe spinal cord injury.
Symptoms
Weakness, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, profuse sweating, fainting, breathing problems, dizziness, confusion.
Tests
Common tests used for diagnosis and treatment
Workup:
A history and physical exam will be performed. Tests will be performed to determine the cause of the low blood pressure. For example, blood cultures may be performed to detect infection and heart tests (including an EKG and ultrasound test) may be recommended to identify a cardiac cause of hypotension.
Tests:
Complete blood count (CBC), Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), Electrocardiogram (EKG), Troponin, Urinalysis (UA), X-ray
Specialists:
Cardiology, Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Critical Care Medicine, Pediatric Cardiology
Workup:
A history and physical exam will be performed. Tests will be performed to determine the cause of the low blood pressure. For example, blood cultures may be performed to detect infection and heart tests (including an EKG and ultrasound test) may be recommended to identify a cardiac cause of hypotension.
Tests:
Complete blood count (CBC), Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), Electrocardiogram (EKG), Troponin, Urinalysis (UA), X-ray
Specialists:
Cardiology, Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Critical Care Medicine, Pediatric Cardiology
Treatment
The goal of therapy is to elevate the blood pressure and reverse the cause of hypotension. Treatment may include: intravenous fluids, blood transfusions, and medications to increase the blood pressure (called "pressors" such as norepinephrine, dopamine, phenylephrine). Antibiotics may be recommended if infection is suspected as the cause. No therapy may be needed if there are no symptoms or signs of organ damage and the low blood pressure is in the usual range for an individual.