How Low is too Low?

My surgery went very well. The only glitch was that I was a bit anaemic going in  and lost some blood during the process. My blood pressure, which is always  low, plumetteted to 60/40. I asked how far down it could go before we needed to worry about my being dead. They didn't answer directly, but ordered a two pint transfusion for that evening.

This was not a great process because I had to wear a blood pressure cuff all night, and they had to check oxygen hourly, so I may have gotten 15 minutes of sleep the whole night. I was not a happy camper.

The anemia was a surprise. I eat lots of lentils, dark green vegetables and fruit, but I am down to eating mostly chicken and fish---beef maybe once a month. I thought that was a good thing and though it is, it was decided that I needed to eat beef/liver once a week, and that I needed to be on an iron supplement twice a day, so hopefully this plan will do the trick.

Regarding the low blood pressure, about which, by the way I was always so proud, it can be problematic. The average is 120 for systolic pressure and 70-80 for diastolic, so an average would be 120/75. Mine has been 110/60 consistently (so really just below average), but they get excited each time.

If your blood pressure drops below 90/60, then this can be considered low blood pressure. It can be also considered low if only one of the numbers is really low, for example 120/40. There are almost as many reasons for fluctuation as there are the differences among us, but some general factors include our level of fitness, the amount of our exercise, and whether we smoke. Are some of you out there still smoking...really?

If you are a very fit person, then sometimes your blood pressure can drop below the average, and you can be absolutely fine. Low blood pressure can be caused by hormonal changes, a side effect of medicine, anaemia or a widening of the blood vessels. Hypovolemia (reduced blood volume) is the most common cause of low blood pressure which can result from a haemorrhage or blood loss, not taking in enough fluids or an excessive loss of fluids.

One  is diagnosed as having low blood pressure  if  they show other symptoms as well as a blood pressure below 90/60. Symptoms include: Chest pain, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, high fever, headache, stiff neck, severe upper back pain, coughing with phlegm, prolonged diarrhea or vomiting, dyspepsia (indigestion), dysuria (painful urination), foul smelling urine, seizures, loss of consciousness, fatigue, temporary blurring or loss of vision and in some cases loss of hair.

The important thing is to check your blood pressure routinely and consult with a doctor about fluctuations or associated symptoms.